TCC hails 2018 tobacco marketing season

Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has hailed this year’s tobacco marketing season, saying it has had less disruptions compared to previous seasons.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday in Lilongwe, TCC chief executive officer Kaisi Sadala said the season has gone according to plan except for a few hitches both on contract and auction systems.

He said: “We have experienced one of the best seasons where rejection rates were not that high. The rejection rates were hovering between 10 and 15 percent which is acceptable.

“With no market disruptions, we were able to plan better for the next season and this has been achieved because of close collaboration and teamwork with all the players in the industry.”

Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) acting chief executive officer Felix Thole said despite the market being smooth, some issues cropped up towards the end of the season.

“As the season is going to an end, we have seen some buyers, especially on contract saying that they have exhausted their quota. This has forced many farmers to take their tobacco to the auction market and the tobacco has lost some value. On prices, they are slightly squeezed, but still farmers have managed to get something,” he said.

AHL Group figures show that after 17 weeks of tobacco sales, 164.3 million of the leaf have been sold, raising $285.2 million (about K209 billion) compared to $209.8 million (K153 billion)raised during the same period last year. n