By Vincent Gunde
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The official opening of 2022 tobacco marketing season at Chinkhoma Auction Floors in Kasungu has started on a good note with the highest price pegged at US$2.50 per Kg and the lowest was 95 Cents which is above 70 cents minimum price.
Chinkhoma has become the third Auction Floors to be open after Lilongwe and Limbe with Mzuzu.
The season is giving hope to Malawi as tobacco remains the largest forex earner driving the economy of the country.
Speaking after officially open the marketing season on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Madalitso Kambauwa-Wirima said is impressed with the quality of the leaf and prices which are being offered with hope for improvements.
Kambauwa-Wirima said though the leaf bought to the market is not the best but the prices are good saying the leaf cutters are just getting into the floors which its quality and price will be higher than the bottom leaf expressing optimistic that buyers will buy it at higher prices.
“The quality of the leaf cutters is the best with a hope that its prices will be higher than the leaf on the market now,’’ she said.
She assured farmers that the ministry will continue to monitor the good price being offered to ensure that growers reap from their sweats enjoying farming as a business, dismissing claims that tobacco industry is declining in Malawi.
Wilrima disclosed that there are now ten tobacco buyers on the market.