Premium Tobacco trains Malawi growers on tobacco grading ahead of market opening

Malawi-Every tobacco grower's dream in the tobacco industry is to get a better price at the Auction Floors market, writes Moses Chilumpha.

However, without knowledge of how best to present the green gold to the buyers, a better price remains a far-fetched dream.

As the tobacco market draws closer to opening, Premium Tobacco Malawi Limited (PTML), one of the buying companies, has embarked on a last round of training on tobacco grading for its growers in Malawi, starting with those in Mchinji district.

"It was imperative that the growers are drilled on tobacco presentation and grouping in the floors as the market is about to open. We love our growers, and we want them to be happy by the end of the season, hence the training," said Bernard Chikopa, one of the facilitators from Premium Tobacco.

Gibson Mazinga, a Kapiri zone chair and one of the growers for the company, expressed happiness after the training, indicating that the training answered most of the growers' questions.

"I have learned how to better group my tobacco for a better price at the auction, something we have been missing for the past years. I and my fellow growers will make sure we follow what we learned today so that we get rewarded with better prices," he explained.

On a different note, one grower, Hillary Banda, lamented that in some cases, well-grouped tobacco ends up being scattered on the floors, thereby disturbing the grouping, and low prices are given.

Commenting on such a scenario, Premium Tobacco facilitator Arthur Mhango said, "Of course, such cases do actually happen, but if they do, it's important to make the buyer aware so that grouping if possible be followed when buying."

Earlier, Leaf Technician Tadala Chambwinja hinted at why growers need to grade their tobacco before taking it to the auction floors.

"It is every grower's dream to walk out of the auction floors with a smile on their face, so with well-graded tobacco, growers can achieve that. Buyers do not have problems with a market full of well-graded tobacco. Other than that, the government requires the growers to present to the auction floors well-graded tobacco," emphasized Chambwinja.

The training is the fourth and last presented to Premium Tobacco Malawi growers before going to the auction floors and was attended by all Leaf Technicians in Mchinji.

As the market opens, PTML's training is expected to give its growers an edge in the tobacco industry, as they will be able to present their tobacco in a well-graded manner, ensuring better prices and a better return on investment.