Malawi exploring tobacco options

Malawi’s Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) says its tobacco industry is set for a major boost following the visit of a group of 16 Egyptian tobacco investors, according to a Ventures Africa story

Speaking before the visit, TCC CEO, Bruce Munthali, said the delegation would hold discussions with “the private sector as well as government officials and other sector stakeholders”.

“As a primary producer of tobacco, it is high time we started adding value to our tobacco,” he said. “The areas of investment to be explored include primary processing, removal of stems from the tobacco leaf as well as manufacturing of cigarettes,” he added.

As was reported here yesterday, tobacco growers in Malawi were paid 10 percent less for their tobacco during the 2014 selling season than they were paid during the 2013 season.

And this fall in prices occurred at a time of high inflation and in respect of a crop whose quality was improved.