Misunderstandings Rock Mzuzu Tobacco Sales

Source from:  BY MCDONALD BAMUSI 07:33:22 - 03 May 2006 05/09/2006

TOBACCO sales were temporarily suspended on Tuesday morning when growers demanded that their tobacco be sold at the offered prices. Since the opening of tobacco sales, buyers are offering less than the recommended minimum prices of US$ 1.10(K151) and US$ 1.70 (K234), a development that has irked the growers. However, farmers say even when tobacco is re-offered at the recommendation of the Tobacco Control Commission (TCC), buyers still offer low prices. "Sometimes TCC stops the sale of tobacco with the hope that it would fetch a better price on second offer only to be surprised it is sold at less than what was first offered," said Emmanuel Luhanga of Rumphi. Mark Dickens Chima a grower from Chisemphere Kasungu said farmers are under pressure to sell their tobacco to meet pressing needs at home. "Some of us are forced to make several trips to the floors. This is affecting us a lot. We have to pay tenants and look after our families," Chima said. Adding:" We would therefore welcome the nearest reasonable price we are offered by the buyers," he said. But TCC officials said they had stopped the sale to negotiate with buyers on the price and explain to growers the mechanics of the minimum prices. Enditem