By Chisomo Phiri
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has hailed the Malawi Government for producing high quality tobacco.
This follows revelations that the leaf has been competitive on international markets in recent years.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale indicated that this means that tobacco produced in the country will now be classified as one of the best tobacco internationally to be processed for consumption.
Kawale further indicated that in the next Parliament meeting they will bring back the tobacco bill of 2019 for further amendments to be in line with international standards especially on child labor among others.
The Minister disclosed that at least 239 million kilogrammes (kg) of tobacco have been licensed as of Friday last week which is roughly 60 million kg more, from 2022/23 buyers demand.
Kawale also indicated that so far 49,070 licenses have been issued to farmers who want to grow tobacco this season ,adding that Tobacco Commission (TC) has extended the tobacco registration and licencing period for the 2023/24 growing season to November 17 2023 from October 31 2023.
Said Kawale: ” Last year , President Lazarus Chakwera challenged us to be growing a minimum of 200 million kilogrammes every year, for the next five years, and on the first year we have already surpassed the target.”
Malawi is one of Africa’s largest tobacco leaf producers and in 2015, produced 22.6% of all of Africa’s output of tobacco leaf.
The country is one of the world’s largest producers of burley tobacco.
In 2018, 95,356 tonnes of tobacco were harvested in Malawi.
