President Dr Lazarus Chakwera yesterday opened the 2024 tobacco market at Chinkhoma Auction in Kasungu, with burley tobacco attracting price as high as $3 on the usually troubled auction side of the market.

For the first time in 88 years the opening of the tobacco marketing season was conducted outside Lilongwe Auction Floors.

Tobacco growers, farmers were excited after getting more United States dollars from the green gold.

Speaking in an interview with one of the farmers Chimwemwe Suwande said “I’m very excited with the prices, and going like this, l’m optimistic that I will make more gains than l have ever anticipated”.

“The price is very promising if the price will continue to be like this every year it will motivate us”. Said Chisomo Gumbi not his real name one of the grower.

On his part, Sam Kawale Minister of Agriculture, hailed Chakwera for encouraging his ministry to develop a good working relationship with buyers.

This year, Malawi is expected to produce 140 million kilogrammers (kg) of tobacco against the market demand of 190 million kg.

Farmers could have produced more than the projected 140 million kilogrammes if they were not hit by dryspells in some tobacco growing areas.