Tag Archives: tobacco farmers

Business

Timverane Club shines in FCB Kupha Makwacha promo

MaraviPost

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Members of Timverane Club, a grouping of Tobacco farmers in the country, can now afford a smile after emerging winners of the FCB Kupha Makwacha Promotion grand prize.

The Club won a brand-new motorcycle through a grand draw the Bank conducted on Monday in Blantyre.

The promotion, which started in May and ended in August, targeted tobacco farmers across the country who bank with FCB as one way of supporting and developing tobacco farming.

Speaking after the final draw, FCB Marketing Manager Pachalo Stanley Chiyora said the Bank, as a strong supporter of farming in Malawi, introduced the promotion to assist tobacco farmers while contributing to the growth of the national economy.

“Tobacco farming is known as the backbone of Malawi’s economy, and as a Bank, we introduced this promotion to assist farmers in their day-to-day activities. It was a way of motivating them while also giving back to them as our valued customers,” said Chiyora.

He further emphasized that the Bank remains committed to providing better services to tobacco farmers and fostering continued development in the tobacco farming industry.

“We are happy with the level of participation we saw from farmers. Going forward, we will continue to support them and look into more ways to strengthen our partnership when we return next year,” said Chiyora.

The promotion also had 96 other winners who got various prizes including bicycles, bags of maize, K150,000 cash, and branded T-shirts.

District News, SADC

President Mutharika gives hope to tobacco farmers, elevates Sub TA Mnyanja to full TA

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Peter Mutharika
President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika

Kasungu, May 04, 2019: President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika Saturday brought good news to farmers of the tobacco growing district of Kasungu when he said starting this year, tobacco buying companies will no longer be allowed to grow the cash crop.

The President was speaking during stop over meetings he held in Kasungu at Mphomwa, Chatoloma and Nkhamenya on his way to Mzuzu.

Professor Mutharika said he is always saddened to see that despite Kasungu farmers growing the top foreign exchange earner, they still swim in poverty because of poor prices tobacco buyers offer.

“Tobacco buying companies will not be allowed to grow tobacco, because they are stealing from the farmers, they grow their own tobacco and buy just a little from us.
“They even go to the extent of rejecting some. They will not grow the tobacco so that they be forced to buy from farmers. I am telling you, this will start this year,” said Professor Mutharika.

The President also gave assurance of continued development for the people of Kasungu if they vote for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) during the 2019 Tripartite Elections.

“I am asking you to vote for DPP as it is a development conscious party, in the last five years we have brought Malata and cement subsidy program, social cash transfer, farm input subsidy program, community colleges, roads, hospitals and schools. We will continue this in the next five years,” he assured.

Professor Mutharika also promised community colleges for all constituencies in the district, including the three constituencies he visited.  He reiterated that DPP government will provide potable water and rehabilitate roads such as the Simlemba to Kapelula road which covers areas of eight chiefs in the district. He also added that he will construct seven secondary schools in the district one of which will be at Mphomwa.
At Mphomwa, the President also promised that the area would get a rural hospital.

The President also ordered the installation of Simlemba as Traditional Authority, besides elevation of Sub TA Mnyanja who has been at STA for a long time to full TA.  He said the Local Government Ministry will start the processes of the promotions.

During the stopovers, the President also drummed up support for DPP shadow Members of Parliament and councilors, asking people to vote for them during the May elections.

DPP’s Vice President for the centre, Uladi Musa also asked the people to vote for Professor Mutharika, saying he needs to complete two terms just like Bakili Muluzi and Late Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika.

Musa said Professor Mutharika has done well in his first term and therefore, must get another term to continue with what he has started.

Agriculture, Business, Malawi, Top News

“Don’t politise tobacco prices as an election ploy”-Chilima

Maravi Post Reporter

 

Chilima

KASUNGU-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Vice President who is also UTM Party leader Dr. Saulos Chilima on Saturday advised President Peter Mutharika to refrain from giving tobacco farmers false hopes for the green gold’s prices.

Chilima observed that during official tobacco opening days farmers are given high prices which do not tally the entire marketing season.

The UTM Party leader therefore warned farmers not to be excited with the prices that will be given on the opening day.

Chilima was addressing the Kasungu rally in a bid to woo voters ahead of May 21 polls.

This comes amid high expectation of farmers ahead of official tobacco marketing season on Thursday, April 25 at Lilongwe flours.

President Peter Mutharika and his counterpart Tanzania President John Magufuli are expected to open the market.

“With the coming in of Tanzania President Magufuli, this leadership might want to show that it cares to tobacco farmers by putting high prices when all in all wont be sustainable.

“So, my fellow farmers dont be excited on the first day of the market but wait until inside of the marketing season. We want true reflection of the tobacco prices not “Chinyenga aphunzitsi (false hopes),” urges Chilima.

Before the rally, Chilima along side UTM Party seniors members including Jessie Kabwila, Newton Kambala and Central Region Governor Daniel Mlomo conducted whistle stop tours at Mtuthama, Kayesa-Senior Chief Lukwa and among others.

Mutharika has been under fire for making questionable decisions ahead of May 21 polls as playing tactics to win vote

President Mutharika has recently promoted  over 7,000 police officers, nurses, teachers and increasing chiefs honoraria  a month before Malawians go to polls on May 21.