Malawi: 2012 Tobacco Production at 80 Million kg Only

Source from:  The Daily Times 07/25/2012

The Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has finally revealed that Malawi has this year produced about 80 million kilogrammes of tobacco, a 76.3 percent reduction from last year when about 237 million kilogrammes of the leaf were produced. TCC Chief Executive Officer Bruce Munthali disclosed this in Mzuzu last Thursday during a tour of the Mzuzu Auction Floors by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa. Munthali said while farmers have benefited from better prices of the leaf, Malawi as a country will get lower earnings from tobacco compared to last year. "Though sales are going on well on the market, it is evident that at national level, we are not going to achieve much compared to last year due to this year's decrease in production," said Munthali. "Even though last year's market price was low, the productivity increased national earnings," said Munthali. It was evident during the tour that the market may take long to close because more bales of tobacco were yet to be sold, a development Munthali said was due to delaying tactics by some farmers who ink the produce might fetch higher price than current ones if it were delivered to the floors late. Meanwhile, TCC Public Relations Officer Juliana Chidumu told The Daily Times on Monday that 76.6 million kilogramme of tobacco had been sold through all the auction floors in the country by Friday July 20, realising about US$170 million in foreign currency for the country. Chidumu said the Lilongwe and Mzuzu auction floors are expected to be finally closed on Friday this week when authorities expect that all tobacco remaining with farmers would have been delivered to the markets. "Major sales have been completed. What we are doing this week is just sweeping sales," said Chidumu. Enditem