Growers "ripped off"

The Malawi Parliament on Monday passed the Tobacco Industry Bill, which, among other things, bans buyers from growing tobacco or engaging in the transport and grading of tobacco, according to a story at Malawi24.com.
The law is aimed also at strengthening tobacco associations by increasing membership from 3,000 to 5,000.
Speaking after the bill was passed, the Minister of Agriculture Joseph Mwanamvekha said the new law meant farmers would no longer be ripped off by buyers. It would introduce sanity to the tobacco industry.
“In the past, the farmer was ripped off,” he said. “The farmer signed the contract without knowing the prices he would be offered.”
The minister claimed also that the law would help reduce poverty because farmers would earn more.
However, last week, the Member of Parliament for Karonga North, Frank Mwenefumbo, opposed the bill saying it would benefit only companies.
Mwenefumbo, who is a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) party, said people in his constituency were against the bill because farmers were aware that it would favor the tobacco companies rather than the farmers.
“Let us put our farmers first and the rest should come second; farmers are the ones who put much effort and money in tobacco business but what do they gain at the end of the day: peanuts, which is not fair to our farmers,” he said.
“These companies are making a lot of profits from our farmers’ sweat; farmers should therefore have all the powers and the companies should surrender their licenses to our farmers; otherwise, this bill is no of use.”