Farmers appreciate Aret new tobacco varieties
Tobacco farmers in Zomba have expressed satisfaction with the new tobacco varieties the Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (Aret) has introduced.
The farmers made the revelation during the Aret annual tobacco field day at Zaone in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chikowi in the district.
Aret deputy director for extension and specialist services John Nyangulu said the new varieties, which include ABH 12, ABH 31 and ABH 43, are drought tolerant, resistant to diseases and produce high yields per hectare.
“Our interest is to see that farmers are making a lot of money from tobacco farming,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, Denister Chipanda, said the new tobacco varieties will sustain agricultural production in the country.
“We believe that the quality of this tobacco will be persuading buyers at the auction floors to be buying us at a good price,” he said.
Machinga district agricultural development programmes manager Gertrude Thaulo advised the farmers to use the new tobacco varieties to ensure they produce quality leaf and also improve the socio-economic status of their families and the country as a whole.
Tobacco is Malawi’s main foreign exchange earner, contributing about 60 percent to foreign exchange earnings and 13 percent to the national economy.
