Tobacco high rejection rate, low prices: Chaponda warns against sabotage

Tobacco farmers in the south were on Monday left frustrated and in despair as tobacco buyers rejected 80 per cent of the gold leaf and most of the tobacco was sold at 80 cents. [caption id="attachment_107947" align="alignright" width="600"] Tobacco trading at Auction Floor[/caption] [caption id="attachment_107946" align="alignright" width="290"] Tobacco buyers told to be fair[/caption] This was the first day of the tobacco sales at Limbe Auction Floors in Limbe and agriculture minister George Chaponda who had come to open the floors was left frustrated too though he wore a brave face. "Tobacco buyers need to be fair with farmers instead of rejecting their tobacco anyhow," Chaponda said. He said it was surprising that most of the rejected tobacco was of high quality. The highest price fetched US$1.40. Chaponda said tobacco remains the main stay of the economy therefore he warned vendors against sabotaging the season, saying they would be prosecuted. He said Malawi should in future consider turning to legumes saying they have a huge market in Asia. Reports say low tobacco prices also characterised Kanengo and Chinkhoma auction floors.