This year’s tobacco market season opened with low prices, as low as $1.30 on auction and $1.50 price for contract farmers.

According to Agriculture Minister, Francis Kasaila, the low prices are because of poor grading practices by the farmers. “What I would urge the growers to do is to take more time in grading their leaf so that the high quality leaf is not mixed with the poor quality leaf,” Kasaila said.

Last year, during the same green gold market season rejection rates shot up to 48%, attributed to poor grading and moisture content in the tobacco. The rejection rate at Mzuzu Auction Floors was seen at 39.2%, while Limbe Action Floors registered 48%.