By Durell Namasani
Lilongwe, April 9– Malawian President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has praised tobacco farmers for their crucial role in generating foreign exchange, which supports key sectors such as agriculture and healthcare.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2025 Tobacco Marketing Season at the Lilongwe Auction Floors on Wednesday, Chakwera acknowledged the farmers’ efforts in easing the country’s economic challenges.
“All farmers should feel appreciated—your tobacco has reduced the country’s suffering by bringing in forex, which enables us to trade for essential commodities,”he said.
The President emphasized that Malawi’s economic progress is partly due to the hard work of tobacco farmers, pledging continued government support until **2030** to ensure their prosperity.
Tobacco Commission Chairperson Dr. Godfrey Chapola commended Chakwera’s leadership for improving order at auction floors, while Agriculture Minister Samuel Dalitso Kawale assured farmers of better prices this season.
Kawale also credited the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) for empowering farmers with financial resources to purchase farming inputs.
At the auction’s launch, burley tobacco fetched between $1.20 and $3.20 per kilogram, with 170 million kilograms expected to be sold this season—a significant rise from 133 million kilograms in 2024.
The Lilongwe Auction Floorsmark the start of the selling season, followed by Chinkhoma (April 11), Limbe (April 14), and Mzuzu (April 28).
Malawi’s tobacco industry remains a vital forex earner, contributing substantially to national economic growth.
