Mzuzu Tobacco Auction Commences on Bad Note

Source from:  BY MCDONALD BAMUSI 06:14:59 - 25 April 2006 04/26/2006

FARMERS and stakeholders in the tobacco industry have said this year's tobacco sales at Mzuzu Auction floors have started on a poor note. Random interviews The Daily Times conducted at the floors indicated that both farmers and the Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) are unhappy with the proceedings saying buyers are not willing to purchase high quality tobacco. "This has been a poor start," said Charles Misheck Nyirenda of Luzi, Mzimba. "The buyers seem to be keen to buy low quality tobacco only. When they come across high quality tobacco, they are not willing to buy at the highest price of $1.40." Limbe Leaf Tobacco Managing Director Charles Graham said prices at the Mzuzu Auction floors are the same as those at Lilongwe and Limbe Auction floors, which range from $0.60 to $1.40 per kilogramme. Graham described the Mzuzu sales as being reasonably well but said some of the tobacco is of poor quality. "Of course we don't expect good quality tobacco on the first day since farmers harvest the lower leaves first which are usually of poorer quality. "The Mzuzu market is better because the sellers are genuine farmers. There are a lot of intermediate buyers in Lilongwe and Limbe who do not know how to grade tobacco. This affects the quality," he said. An official from Mzuzu Auction Holdings who did not want to be named said farmers need to work hard on handling and presentation of the tobacco in order to maintain good quality. "Most of the tobacco on sale today is mouldy, wet and mixed that's why they are not able to get good quality tobacco," he said. However, Tobacco Control Commission General Manager Godfrey Chapola said his organization is not happy because buyers are not willing to pay minimum prices on high quality tobacco grades. "Each grade has its own minimum price," said Chapola. "As TCC we are not allowing any buyer to buy tobacco at a price lower than the minimum price." Enditem