Tobacco growers on Sunday called off protests planned for Monday to force the closure of markets to reverse a high auction tobacco rate characterizing the current marketing season.
The cancellation followed a meeting called by the Commission to update the growers on steps the regulator has been taking to find a lasting solution.
Falling between 96 and 100% in the first week of trading, the 2026 rejection rate is unprecedented.
During the meeting, the Commission informed the growers the regulator had already engaged tobacco buying companies and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development to find ways of improving market performance.
Preliminary findings show that global demand and supply dynamics are a key factor in the rejection levels.
In Malawi, production is this year projected at 197 million kilogrammes.
The Commission recorded a trade requirement of 170 million kilogrammes.
The Commission assured the growers stakeholder engagements on the matter would continue and that progress update would be available before the end of the week.
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