MP Schools Govt on Tobacco Buyers

Source from:  dailytimes.bppmw.com BY DEBORAH NYANGULU 05:23:13 - 28 August 2006 08/29/2006

THREATENING tobacco buyers is counterproductive and if left unchecked would plunge the country into an economic crisis, Lilongwe City Central MP, Boniface Kadzamira has said. President Bingu wa Mutharika has, on several occasions, accused tobacco buyers of exploiting smallholder farmers, but the MP said Thursday, intimidating buyers was not the best way of solving the problem. The MP, who once worked as an auctioneer at Lilongwe Auction Floors for 12 years, said for the past nine years buyers have monopolised the industry. "Buyers are now engaged in tobacco farming and no longer need smallholder farmers. This is in conflict with tobacco regulations," Kadzamira said. He said other than wasting time on shouting at buyers; government should start looking for new buyers to break their monopoly. "We should woo buyers from Mainland China," he said. But Agriculture Minister Uladi Mussa said those condemning government were ignorant of problems hitting the tobacco sector. " Government has tried talking to these buyers, but they don't just listen. Previous ministers, Aleke Banda, Gwanda Chakuamba have tried to talk sense into the buyers, but they are adamant," Mussa said. However, he agreed lack of competition in the sector was killing the sector. The minister said government was in the process of setting up a processing plant to allow farmers boost their tobacco income. "With our own plant farmers won't have to go to these buyers again for processing. They will be using our plant," Mussa said. Enditem