• March 29, 2024

Malawi growers told rejection rate not ‘tolerable’

Leaf tobacco sales resumed in Malawi on August 19 according to a Malawi24 story relayed by the TMA in abstract form.

The abstract said that leaf auctions had been suspended in June after growers protested against low prices.

Rejection rates were said to have stood at 60 percent ‘as of July’.

The Tobacco Control Commission CEO, Bruce Munthali, said the commission was holding talks with farmers to address the issue of rejections.

The rejection rate was described as being much higher than the ‘tolerable’ level of 20 percent, but there was no indication in the abstract as to who found rejection rates of 20 percent plus intolerable.

There was no indication, either, of how rejection rates would be brought down.

Seemingly, buyers would have to pay more or growers would have to accept previously unacceptable prices.

The TCC believes that the whole of the Malawi crop will be sold before the end of the selling season this month.