Malawi Experts Differ on 2006 Tobacco Estimates

Source from:  February 21, 2006, By ANDnetwork .com Lilongwe (AND) 02/22/2006

There is uncertainty as to how much tobacco Malawi will produce this year as two institutions have produced statements that are contradictory on the overall production estimates for the country. Tobacco is Malawi's principal source of foreign capital accounting for about 60 percent of its total earnings and an alternative is yet to be identified in the wake of the growing global anti-smoking lobby. Malawi Tobacco Control Commission [TCC] general manager Godfrey Chapola told the local press last Thursday that favourable rainfall distribution patterns, steady availability and affordable prizes of fertilizer and contract farming have boosted the production and quality of the major foreign exchange earner. Chapola estimates that the total volume of the 2006 leaf stands at 156.5 million kilogrammes, an increase from 143.4 million kilogrammes sold in the 2005. Chapola is reported as saying field estimates his institution conducted put volumes of burley at 124 million kilogrammes, 32 million kilogrammes for flue cured and 500,000 kilogrammes for northern dark leaf. "It has not been dry and too wet which is favourable for the tobacco growing. The quality is good, mainly because of favourable rainfall distribution," adding "volumes and quality looks high," he said last Thursday. However, Agricultural Extension Trust [ARET] Director Ezra Chilembwe said that Malawi tobacco production this year is not expected to improve as a result of inadequate rains in some parts of the country. Chilembwe was speaking during tobacco farmers annual day in Kasungu central Malawi on Saturday at Mwimba Research Institute. Chilembwe said that Malawi is expected to produce the same amount of tobacco as produced last year, which was about 119 million kilogrammes and 25 million kilogrammes of flue cured tobacco. I don't see us moving away from those figures, I think we will be very close to those because some areas have not received enough rainfall for the crop to reach its maximum growth so the yield will be affected." Chilembwe told reporters, adding Malawi was expected to produce more tobacco in 2006 because of demand increase despite the international anti smoking lobby that is garnering support worldwide. Kasungu, Rumphi and Karonga district experienced a dry spell for weeks and incidentally are also some of the largest producers of tobacco in the country. Malawi's principal secretary of Agriculture Randson Mwadiwa confirmed the dry spell had been experienced for three weeks in the districts. "I have indeed received reports from the concerned Agricultural Development Divisions (ADD) that it has not been raining in Kasungu, Rumphi and Karonga for the past three weeks," adding, "The situation will be particularly worrisome in Kasungu and Rumphi if it does rain the next 10days." Mwadiwa said last Thursday. Enditem