According to the Tobacco Commission (TC), tobacco farmers will see better prices in the next market season.

However, TC chief executive officer Kayisi Sadala said the above will happen on the condition that the farmers produce quality crop.

The promise follows after last year’s green gold market season saw rejection rates rise to 74% due to poor quality tobacco. Sadala recently inspected tobacco fields in Mzimba where the farmers bemoaned excess rainfall that may affect the crop, while  there is also a growing concern on armyworms and bud eaters.

This season, tobacco buyers have demanded 161.4 million kilogrammes (kg), which is higher than 149.6 million kg demanded in 2019.