Today, Tobacco Commission (TC) will commence its first-round tobacco crop estimate survey, as confirmed by the commission’s corporate planning and development manager Hellings Nasoni.

On the other hand, Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Farmers Trust chief executive officer Felix Thole said that in the event of over production, prices are affected so if farmers produce within international buyer demand, they will be assured of better prices. He therefor hailed the survey as a preventive measure against overproduction. “So, the crop estimate survey is critical as it helps to manage our expectations”. he said

Nasoni also stressed on the importance of the exercise, since it gives the commission and the tobacco industry an opportunity to have information on expected volumes to be traded.