JTI Leaf (Malawi) Limited wants to remove sections from the Tobacco Industry Act that block buyers from giving loans to farmers for growing alternative crops, reports The Nation.

JTI Leaf Malawi is pushing for a review of the 2019 Tobacco Industry Act because it fears that certain parts such as stopping tobacco buyers from signing deals with farmers for alternative crops will ultimately harm the country’s agriculture. Limbani Kakhome, JTI Leaf Malawi corporate affairs and communications director, said that the current legislation stands in direct conflict with the government’s promotion of crop diversification.
“For instance, Section 45 subsection three of the Tobacco Industry Act which bars buyers from providing loans for alternative crops caused huge outcry in our grower communities as our growers heavily relied on these inputs for production of maize for subsistence,” he said.
According to The Nation, he also said the section was in direct contradiction with Section 4 (b) of the same Act which mandates Tobacco Commission to promote crop diversification.
Tobacco Commission public relations officer Telephorus Chigwenembe said that a review of the Act has now been initiated and that “stakeholders have had an opportunity to contribute to the review”.