Figures released by the Tobacco Commission (TC) have shown that Malawi has realised $138,922,011.05 from total sales in the past 12 weeks. The sales are 32% lesser than the results of sales during the same period last year.

A decrease has also been noted in the volume sold this year, registering 21% lower than the 118,341,315 kg registered in 2018. TC Chief Executive Officer, Kaisi Sadala, said that this year’s market started late, the market was not stable for a while.

Sadala has said the commission would launch the third and final crop estimates study complete on Friday to determine the actual volumes of tobacco the country has produced this year.

Meanwhile the tobacco industry is amidst new developments, as the new Act launched in April, has changed the name of Tobacco Control Commission to Tobacco Commission. The new law has also stated that all tobacco auction floors will change name to tobacco selling floors because they are now handling tobacco under contract farming or Integrated Production System (IPS) apart from auctioned tobacco. On the other hand, Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) President Abiel Masache Kalima Banda has revealed that the firm has developed a five-year strategic plan which will see it opt for other crop value chains apart from tobacco.