As the 2024 Malawi tobacco market gets under way, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera calls to support farmers, reports Malawi Voice.

Speaking at the official opening of the tobacco market at Chinkhoma Auction Floors in Kasungu, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera said tobacco farmers are the economic drivers of the country as they generate the much-needed foreign currency to import essential goods. “It is very important that we support tobacco farmers because they are the ones that generate forex for the country. I will make sure I fight for farmers because I understand that they are the key players in the realization of Malawi 2063 that seeks to make Malawi an independent middle income economy,” he said.
The President condemned the illegal tobacco trade by some companies and farmers and warned that those involved would be hunted down and prosecuted. Chakwera thanked the companies that buy the tobacco leaves at the auctions and urged them to continue offering good prices to farmers.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale noted that the changing of the law governing the tobacco sector has helped to increase production of tobacco leaf and help farmers benefit more from their work. “Tobacco farmers have grown a lot of tobacco this year because some of the restrictions have been removed hence encouraging the farmers to produce more. The good prices we had last season are a product of the good relationship between the government and the buyers and we expect to see the same this season,” Kawale said.