LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-What was meant to be a moment of hope for thousands of farmers has instead opened with frustration and anxiety, as the 2025–2026 tobacco selling season begins on a shaky note at the Kanengo Auction Floors in Lilongwe.
On the surface, the figures offer a glimmer of promise — with the highest price observed reaching $2.50 per kilogram.
But beneath that headline number lies a troubling reality: rows upon rows of tobacco bales remain unsold, stamped with the dreaded label “No Sale.”
For many farmers, that label carries heavy consequences.
“It is painful,” said Nixon Soko, a tobacco farmer from Kabudula. “When a bale is marked ‘No Sale,’ it means you must take it back and try again another day. For that day, everything has collapsed.”
The slow pace of buying and widespread rejection of tobacco leaf have cast a shadow over the opening day, leaving farmers questioning whether their months of hard work will pay off.
This unfolding crisis comes in full view of top government officials. Minister of Agriculture, Roza Mbilizi, has already toured the auction floors and is presiding over the official opening ceremony as guest of honour.
Yet even as speeches are delivered and formalities observed, the reality on the ground tells a more troubling story.
Farmers, already burdened by the rising cost of farm inputs, now face the added uncertainty of a market that appears hesitant to buy.
Many fear that if the trend continues, they could be pushed deeper into financial strain.
As the season begins, all eyes are on the auction floors.
For now, hope hangs in the balance — and for Malawi’s tobacco farmers, the stakes could not be higher.
According to figures released by the Tobacco Commission, projected production for 2026 stands at 170 million kilogrammes against a licensed volume of 197 million kilogrammes.
Eight buying companies have been licensed for this year’s season: JTI, Alliance One, Limbe Leaf, Hail & Cotton, Premium Tobacco, Associated Central African Limited, African Tobacco Services and Nyasa Manufacturing.
The 2025 season closed with 221 million kilogrammes sold and the average price at the end of the season was $2.45/kg, generating a total monetary value of $542 million.