MALAWI TOBACCO FARMERS CRYING FOUL..

 For so many years now,so many tobacco farmers in Malawi have been complaining of poor tobacco prices offered by the foreighn buyers at the acution floors in the 3 regions of the country.I remember there was a time farmers used to take their produce to sell in Mozambique and Zambia so that they should get better prices for their months of hard work.Its so doubtful now these days that you will see a farmer going into all that hussle to transport his produce so that they can maybe have a profit aftre sales.

Tobacco prices have been on the decline for a long time but its so doubtful if alot of farmers have seen this coming.There are so many factors afeecting this.Some of them being that there are not a lot of tobacco buyers from Europe and other parts of the world due to the anti-smoking campaigns and higher import taxes on such produce by our various buying countries.

This has had a negative effect om the economy as there is no forex coming in and there is no much money spent as it has been the case in the years before(being that farmers spend alot after harvest,thereby making various local business flourish).

But what should be or could have been done to be in a better situation?The blame should be put on the government.The government being in the know should have had put measures in place,educating and making various farmers aware of the factors that are affecting tobacco sales and prices.Farmers need to be encouraged to venture into growing different cash crops.There are crops like paprika,sweet and irish potatoes,maize(by irrigation for those who can manage).

There is no way that tobacco prices wil improve and farmers should know that.Politicianss should not come ther and have that as a campain tool that they will improve tobacco prices.If they say that thay are lying and cannot be trusted.

All i can advise is for the people above who can influence to put measures in place starting from now on about how a Malawian farmer can survive.