Agriculture
Govt. for improved tobacco farming and marketing practices
January 15, 2021 / Nelson Gonjani
The Malawi Government has urged tobacco growers to improve their farming practices if the industry is to reclaim its lost glory.
Minister of Agriculture, Lobin Lowe, made the call during TAMA’s 33rd Annual Congress held in Lilongwe under the theme “Adherence to Agricultural Labour Practices in the Wake of Withhold Release Order.’’
The minister expressed government’s commitment to ensuring that local farmers continue benefiting from their work.
He disclosed that his ministry has engaged the Tobacco Commission and other relevant stakeholders to strategise on best ways that can assist in promoting the sector. He said the strategies will be consolidated and developed into notices for parliament to enact into laws that will benefit tobacco farmers.
The minister further revealed that while his ministry is working at identifying an alternative crop to replace tobacco as the country’s major foreign exchange earner, efforts are also underway with other relevant government departments and agencies to come up with laws preventing illegal tobacco exports, a practice that has greatly affected crop’s local earnings.
TAMA president, Abiel Kalima Banda, described the meeting as a success and an eye opener to tobacco farmers considering that the crop is experiencing global challenges. He assured the farmers that it is TAMA’s responsibility to end woes affecting the once upon a time vibrant sector.
Commenting on 2021 tobacco selling season, the TAMA leader said he was satisfied that the year saw reduced rejection rates and increased prices offered to the farmers for their leaf.
Reports indicated that the reduction in the rejection rate from all the Auction Floors in the county was mostly attributed to high sensitization of farmers on Non-Tobacco Related Materials (NTRM) which affect yield quality and its market pricing.
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The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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