MW STUCK WITH TOBACCO, LMC

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has disclosed that Malawi cannot do without tobacco production as there is currently to crop that can substitute the green gold.

Chakwera says there is still need for more consultations if Malawi is to do away with tobacco completely.

The president was speaking in Parliament when he appeared to take questions from Members of Parliament to fulfill a constitutional requirement.

'At the moment we need to look for more markets to sell out tobacco, because with more markets you have better deals,' said Chakwera.

He agreed with sentiments that the country need to diversify its sources of foreign exchange but with tobacco still being produced.

'We will transition to other crops, yes, but while we are looking at alternatives, we will still produce tobacco and later transition gradually to other cash-making crops,' enthused Chakwera.

Malawi relies heavily on tobacco for its foreign exchange earnings but demand for the leaf has dwindled in recent years owing to the anti-smoking campaigns being managed worldwide.