By Lawrence Develoius Kaunda:
The government has moved to rescue Malawi’s tobacco growers by directing the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) to start purchasing unsold tobacco after traditional buyers halted purchases, citing exhausted trade quotas.
In a press statement issued Saturday evening and seen by The Atlas, Secretary for Agriculture Dickxie Verson Kampani said sales at the auction floors had slowed in recent weeks, leaving farmers stranded with bales of tobacco.
He said government recognized the crucial role the crop plays in household incomes and the national economy, and could not allow growers to suffer due to reduced demand from international companies.
“The Government has resolved to purchase the remaining tobacco through the SFFRFM, which has already commenced this operation and is active on the auction floors,” Kampani said.
He added that government remained committed to providing “a reliable and sustainable market” for growers, reaffirming tobacco’s position as the country’s leading export commodity.
“The Government reassures the entire tobacco-growing community of its full support and affirms that it will provide all necessary resources to the SFFRFM to complete this purchasing initiative successfully,” the statement reads.
The intervention comes at a time when Malawi is battling fluctuations in global demand for leaf tobacco, a crop that contributes significantly to foreign exchange earnings but has faced increased restrictions over health concerns.
Farmers have long complained about price volatility and dependency on a few dominant buyers, raising fears of exploitation.
Last week, Atlas reported that farmers under Associated Central African Limited, Hell and Cotton, Premium Tama, and Alliance One were stranded with unsold bales at Waliranji in Mchinji due to booking bottlenecks.
Growers complained that even after the first extension of the marketing season, they failed to access the market, leaving an estimated 500 bales unsold in the district alone.
In an interview Enoch Mghogho, a farmer from Mchinji, said the step taken by government was a huge relief after weeks of uncertainty.
“Many farmers, largely in the central region, were affected by the early closures. We were beginning to lose hope, but now at least we are assured our sweat will not go to waste,” he said.
he said the latest move reflects the government’s attempt to stabilize the sector ahead of the 2025 season.
However, questions remain on whether the SFFRFM has adequate capacity and resources to absorb the remaining volumes, given its primary mandate of a fertilizer distribution.
Meanwhile, other growers have welcomed the assurance but urged government to expedite the purchases, warning that delays could erode their profits and worsen financial hardship.
