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• Has the end of Malawi's tobacco-driven economy come?
  Adamson S. Muula
  Published on: 27 September 2003

• Published on: 27 September 2003

  Has the end of Malawi's tobacco-driven economy come?

  • Adamson S. Muula, Public Health Doctor

  Has the end of Malawi’s tobacco-driven economy come?

  Author:

  Adamson S. Muula MB BS, MPH Department of Community Health University of Malawi College of Medicine Private Bag 360, Blantyre 3 MALAWI Email: amuula@medcol.mw

  Letter to Editor

  In his article about Malawi’s economic reliance on the “green gold” (tobacco), Peter Davies 1 clearly presented the dilemma that an African country in...

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  Has the end of Malawi’s tobacco-driven economy come?

  Author:

  Adamson S. Muula MB BS, MPH Department of Community Health University of Malawi College of Medicine Private Bag 360, Blantyre 3 MALAWI Email: amuula@medcol.mw

  Letter to Editor

  In his article about Malawi’s economic reliance on the “green gold” (tobacco), Peter Davies 1 clearly presented the dilemma that an African country in Malawi’s position faces. Such difficult position has been a matter of debate in other publications 2, and it would seem that it will basically be economic considerations and not strict public health (although the economy cannot be wholly delineated from public health) on the part of countries like Malawi that will eventually force them to reduce tobacco growing. Of course, part of their reduction of tobacco producing could be related to the anti-smoking lobby.

  Malawi’s economic performance has lately been a matter of concern. Like in many African countries, the causes and the effects of such slump in economy is poorly documented. We can not therefore say anything much about rising malnutrition levels, increasing unemployment and by how much, as a result of the deteriorating state of the economy. However, we can speak about the role that tobacco has played in the present state of affairs.

  Malawi is the largest producer of burley tobacco in the world. According to the Tobacco Exporters’ Association of Malawi (TEAM), Malawi’s burley tobacco production has been dwindling since 2000. TEAM comprises: the international tobacco buying companies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security, Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET), Auction Holdings Limited (AHL), the National Association of Small Holder Farmers in Malawi (NASFAM), Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) and Tobacco Control Commission (TCC). In a press release of 20th September 2003, TEAM reported that while Malawi produced 142.3 million kilograms of burley tobacco in 2000, production was 102 million kilograms in 2003.3 This 28.3% drop in production translated in loss of US$ 43 million. The grouping is currently campaigning to ensure that in the forthcoming growing season, more farmers and hectarage is dedicated to burley tobacco.

  What could be the reasons Malawian farmers are no longer growing much tobacco. Economic considerations rank high. According to Team, the problems that the Malawi tobacco farmer face include: high transport costs, input and marketing costs, various bank charges, devaluation of the local currency and low selling prices for the tobacco at the auction floor. Auction Holdings Limited, which charges commission for use of its markets also charges commission and the farmers faces the brunt.

  In order to motivate farmers to grow more tobacco, the following measures have been put in place: the commission payable to Auction Holdings has been reduced from 3.95% to 3.5%,4 taxes on Hessian bags (for packaging tobacco) have been removed, tobacco awareness campaign instituted. TEAM has also embarked on an initiative that will ensure that the tobacco that reaches the markets will be of high quality thus further attempting to ensure higher monetary returns to the farmers. This will probably be achieved through: sales of high quality certified tobacco seeds, maintenance and construction of tobacco curing barns, holding on and off-farm field days and conducting tobacco grading course for farmers.

  Malawi’s reliance on tobacco has reached a crossroads. Economic factors have forced the tobacco growing community to reduce production, at least of burley tobacco. While this goes on, the public health fraternity in the country is relatively quiescent, probably for lack of viable alternative in the prevailing circumstances. The tobacco industry has produced a strategy on gaining lost glory. Speaking on the only national television on 22nd September 2003, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi said he was aware of the adverse health effects of tobacco and that was not a matter of argument. It was the lack of alternatives that mattered. He went on to say, if the anti-tobacco lobby is successful, then he would ensure that “the last cigarette to be smoked must come from Malawi”. There is need for the public health teams to take advantages of the current problems.

  Conflict of Interest

  None

  References 1. Davies P. Malawi: addicted to the leaf. Tobacco Control 2003, 12(1): 91 -3 2. Muula AS. The challenges facing third world countries in banning tobacco. Bulletin of the World Health Association 2001, 79(5): 480 3. Tobacco Exporters’ Association of Malawi. An appeal to all burley growers: grow more burley tobacco for more money. Malawi News, 20th-26th September 2003 p16 4. Auction Holding Limited. Reduction in selling commission. Weekend Nation. Tamvani, 22nd-23rd September 2003 p 31

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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