Chakwera describes tobacco industry as country’s major forex earner

Chakwera describes tobacco industry as country’s major forex earner

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday, 15th April 2024 described the tobacco industry as the country’s highest forex earner, saying it remains the reason why he always appeals to more companies to buy the Malawi tobacco.

Chakwera told the gathering at Chinkhoma floors in Kasungu that the government always puts at heart the needs and concerns of farmers, especially tobacco farmers knowing that they are generators of the country’s economy.

Speaking during the opening of the 2024 tobacco marketing season at Vivya Primary School Ground in the area of Senior Chief Njombwa, Chakwera said tobacco being Malawi’s mainstay economic driver, will continue to be the focal point of the country’s development agenda in line with the Malawi Vision 2063.

“When we talk of the Vision of Malawi 2063 to have a self-reliant nation, with the economy that puts the country as a middle-income earning nation, then tobacco farmers are always a priority, for they are the number one economic generating group of the country, who are pushing for the availability of forex.

This is the reason why I take their concerns seriously so that they are reaping from their farming activities. Lets all hold hands from the farmers, buyers, Tobacco Commission, and Ministry of Agriculture, so that the tobacco industry continues to fetch forex for our economic growth.

President Chakwera further assured the nation that his government will continue finding new ways of improving the tobacco industry in the country and safeguarding farmers and the product from exploitation and illegal trade.

Observed under the theme: “Safeguarding Our Economy: Uniting Against Illegal Trade” this year’s opening of the market offered 2,165 burley tobacco bales for sale, with prices ranging between $2.20 and $3.05 per kilogram.