Malawian Tobacco Farmers Stop Selling

Source from:  Posted Wed, 17 May 2006 Blantyre 05/18/2006

Tobacco farmers in Malawi have forced the closure of tobacco sales at the country's three auction floors after disputing prices which tumbled even lower over the past weeks, tobacco authorities said on Tuesday. Felix Mkumba, executive director of the Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA), said that farmers initiated suspension of sales after being disappointed with low prices. "Yes, all the three tobacco auction floors have been closed until further notice," he said. "Prices were getting worse." Mkumba said they took the decision last Friday at a meeting between the government, the Tobacco Control Commission, the industry regulator, and TAMA, which represents the interests of 30 000 growers. Prices at the tobacco selling floors in Blantyre, Lilongwe and the northern city of Mzuzu have tumbled to as low as $0.50 over the past few weeks from a high of $1.40 a kg. Enditem