Government Seeking New Tobacco Buyers

Source from:  by Felix Malamula, 17 May 2006 - 06:27:35  05/18/2006

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Uladi Mussa says government is currently hunting for new tobacco buyers for the next growing season with the aim of improving prices at the auction floors. Mussa said in an interview in Lilongwe on Monday the problem of low tobacco prices is coming because of very few buyers in the country. "We only have three major tobacco buyers in the country and this is why they are dictating prices at our auctions," said Mussa. He said government is hunting for buyers from Asia to bring competition that would help improve the prices. "We will invite buyers from Asian countries like China, India and countries like Egypt so that they enhance competition and help improve the prices," said Mussa. Disruptions of sales due to poor prices have been a common occurrence at the country's auction floors in recent years. Most growers have grumbled that their leaf was being bought at very low prices. As of yesterday, Lilongwe Auction Floors were not open four days after a sellers' protest while sales at Limbe Floors in Blantyre were disrupted yesterday. Poor prices on offer last year prompted President Bingu wa Mutharika to threaten to chase all tobacco buyers and bring in new ones. He accused buyers of exploiting growers. Enditem