The wait is over for tobacco farmers in the northern region. Earnings have now started flowing into bank accounts because on Tuesday, May 5, Agriculture Minister Rosa Fatch Mbilizi opened the fourth and final tobacco market for the 2026 marketing season – Mzuzu Floors.
The Minister has been to all the markets, starting with Lilongwe Floors on the official opening of the 2026 marketing season on April 20. Chinkhoma Floors and Limbe Floors followed on April 21 and 23, respectively.
At all her appearances, the Minister made one message unmistakable – government will ensure tobacco farmers are protected from attempts to exploit them through unfair prices.
Throughout, the Minister has emphasized that the tobacco will not be bought at less than its real production cost.
In Mzuzu, she made her sentiments especially unambiguous when she commented on auction tobacco rejections. Excerpts:
In the past few days, I have been meeting different players in the industry as we search for answers to the predicament we find ourselves in. I have heard all sides of the rejections.
I must admit, the factors involved are complex requiring all of us to approach with sober minds.
That there is global overproduction, thereby keeping appetite for our tobacco moderate, I understand.
That companies have carryover stocks from last year is well understood.
That international customers are yet to place their orders makes sense.
However, as we navigate the terrain, we, as government, do not want to let our farmers see in agony their tobacco go at less than the cost of producing one kilogram of the crop. The day we allow that is the day we lose the right to call ourselves leaders.
Allowing the crop to go at less than the cost of production will mean we have just used these farmers to give us free tobacco.
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