By Riches Soberekon
Tobacco sales in Malawi increased by 55% in the latest season, reaching $282 million, an improvement from last year’s sales of $182 million, but still lower than previous years when they exceeded $350 million.
The increase in sales is attributed to better weather conditions, which led to a higher production of tobacco. However, production was lower last year due to a lack of dollar reserves in Malawi, which prevented the country from importing agricultural inputs.
Malawi is one of the lowest income countries in the world, but it is a major tobacco producer. The country ranks first in the world for burley tobacco and seventh for overall production.
Tobacco is the country’s biggest export earner, accounting for over 70% of export income.
However, returns from tobacco have dwindled over the past decade due to declining global demand driven by anti-smoking campaigns. This has led to economic problems in Malawi, as the country relies heavily on tobacco revenue.
