By Vincent Gunde
Tobacco marketing season for 2026 has started at the Lilongwe Auction Floors with high rejections of bales of tobacco particularly for those farmers who are not on contract.
Farmers had to write N/S on the labels meaning no sale, a clear indication that the price which was offered was contrary to the quality of tobacco and considering expenses which were incurred when growing the commodity.
The whole 62 tobacco bales lined up for sale, only one bale not written no sale, has spoken strong words that tobacco growers this year will not sing a good song of victory but crying and if this is left unchecked, suicide cases will be on the rise.
But, on a sad note, some tobacco farmers are insulting and castigating President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for not protecting them from tobacco buyers who do not want to buy their tobacco but taking it to their country’s for free.
