2023 Tobacco season looks promising-TAMA Farmers Trust
Positive prospects are manifesting on this season’s tobacco production, as growers express pleasure over leaf development and market preparations.
The bright picture is coming out as the authorities are computing production estimates that would give a clearer projection to this season’s output.
Last year, the country sold 85 million kilogrammes of the green gold, which was significantly less than what the buyers were demanding at about 150 million kilograms.
Meanwhile, TAMA Farmers Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Nixon Lita, is revealing that preparations for the forthcoming season are intact.
“Registration was finished and at the moment the industry is involved in crop assessment to see how much tobacco has been planted and to check on the development stage.
“But from the reports that we have from farmers at the moment, they are doing reaping and the picture is very positive especially with the weather as compared to last year because last year this time some farmers had given up,” Lita said.
Last year, Malawi failed to satisfy international buyers’ demand for tobacco having sold 85 million kilogrammes of all types of the leaf against the required 150 million kilograms.
According to figures from the tobacco market operator, AHL Group, the country sold 85 million kilograms at a total consideration of 182million dollars at an average price of 2dollars 14cents per kilogram.
The earnings were also lower than the 194.9 million dollars the country realized after selling 123.7 million kilograms of all types of tobacco last season.
However, from what is coming out of the assessments which are underway is giving a better picture of the production this year.