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Tobacco farmers’ cooperative societies are being formed across major growing zones in the country as growers seek to solve perennial farm inputs and credit problems.
Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Regional Manager (South) Felix Thole said on Wednesday the idea has proved effective in Ntcheu where the first of such cooperatives was formed early last year.
Thole said Nanyangu Cooperative in Sharpe Valley, which falls under Area of Tama’s tobacco growing councils in the district, managed to source enough fertilisers for its 80 members this year in preparation of the planting season..
Councillor of the area, Tama president Albert Kamulaga, is chairman of the group.
Thole said the main thrust behind the formation of the group was to facilitate the buying of farm inputs in bulk, get access to credit, cut down transport costs and encourage information sharing.
“In these hard times when the cost of farm inputs continues to rise and credit facilities (become) scarce, societies fight the tough conditions as a unit,” said Thole.
Kamulaga, who is also president of the International Tobacco Association of Malawi (ITGA), said the societies form the basis of the industry’s future.
Tobacco counts for about 75 percent of the country’s total foreign exchange earnings.
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