MALAWI: A new tobacco control law for Malawi growers

Fields like this that are well suited to the production of burley have made Malawi the world’s major participant in the world burley export market.

BLANTYRE—The Malawian Parliament passed a Tobacco Act in early December that is expected to improve the status of growers in this poverty-stricken country

Minister of Agriculture Joseph Mwanamvekha said the act will protect tobacco growers at the markets and also enable them to be informed of the price attached to the contracts they sign. Apparently this had been a problem with some buyers. The act also forbids the planting of tobacco by buyers, as well as preventing buyers from grading or transporting the crop.

“I am excited that the tobacco control bill has passed, since our tobacco farmers have been facing challenges

during the signing of contracts for selling their tobacco,” said Mwanamvekha.