Tobacco is indeed an industry which drives the Malawi economy but of late, the industry has been dodged by various problems ranging from low tenants payments to low prices and high rejection rate.

Just on Wednesday, Kanengo Auction Floors closed down after farmers had protested of high rejection rate.

On Wednesday, rejection rate in Lilongwe tobacco Auction Floors had reached 78 % while in Mzuzu the rejection rate was 93%. The same problem in Limbe and Chinkhoma had reached 86.1 and 69.5 % respectively.

Two tobacco farmers interviewed in Lilongwe said they are worried with the tobacco double standards which buyers are playing.

Akim Banda from Bunda said he is worried that Tobacco buyers are rejecting the tobacco which is of good quality.

AHL Group Corporate Affairs Manager Mark Ndipita, in an interview confirmed about the rejection rate.

Ndipita said the development is indeed a worry to the Tobacco Farmers.

“These auction farmers have great responsibilities in their homes and they need money. It is unfortunate that tobacco farmers selling on auction system are undergoing through this experience which they did not anticipate”

But in a bid to ease the situation, Tobacco Control Commission(TCC) Chief executive officer Dr Albert Changaya says TCC is engaging tobacco buyers to a round table discussions in order to resolve the problem.