Following the directive by President Mutharika, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced the opening of this year’s tobacco market season, scheduled for April 20.

Considering that the auction floors have gatherings of more than 100, the Ministry’s spokesperson Priscilla Mateyu outlined that preventative measures will be implemented during the market season. For instance, there will be restricted entry to the floors, scanning of temperature for all those entering the floors, regular sanitisation through use of hand sanitizers and chlorinated water across the floors in strategic places.

“The market authorities will also be ensuring that all those in the floors have Personal Protective Equipment. Sales will also be made in shifts and that there will be no pre–laying or relays and that bale gaps will be revisited to ensure that there is enough space between bales,” said Mateyu.

On the other hand, a crop assessment report showed that Malawi’s tobacco output is down by 6.6%, attributed to unceasing rainfalls that destroyed the green gold.