Figures from Tobacco Commission (TC) show that tobacco worth $194.2 million has been sold so far, made from 131,083,157 kilograms (kg).

Still, the earnings are 28% lower than the $271,355,270.10 realised within first 16 weeks of sales last while the sold volume has also gone down by 16% from 155,928,982 kg.

Factors to the slumped numbers are low prices and high rejection rate during the first weeks of the market, among others. Regardless, the anti-smoking lobby instituted by the World Health Organisation [WHO] led to a lowered demand by buyers, affecting leaving 35% oversupply.

On the other hand, In a scenario whereby tobacco farmers have grown excess tobacco than the demand by buyers, the Tobacco Commission (TC) allows the farmers to sell the excess tobacco, a process known as uplift. In June this year, TC Chief Executive Officer said uplifts will be considered only when the farmers sell of their tobacco. “We will offer uplifts when we are satisfied that at least 75% of our farmers have pushed in their tobacco,” Sadala said.