A subsidiary of AHL Group called TIL moved in to help tobacco farmers manage their tobacco grading processes a development aimed at easing the high rejection at selling floors in the northern region.

TIL, which operates at the Mzuzu Auction Floors, has established a grading centre at Kabwafu Mini Floors in Mzimba District. “What happens is that farmers come from very remote areas—for example, Euthini in Mzimba or all the way from Chitipa—to the Mzuzu Floors. It is very costly to get back their bales if they are rejected.” said TIL Assistant Manager for Mzuzu Moffat Kalobekamo, insisting that TIL’s help was out of concern for the farmers.

Meanwhile, tobacco rejection rate has gone down to 27% from 70% in the first three weeks of this year’s Tobacco Marketing Season, confirmed by Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama). Already as withholding tax has been removed from bags lesser than 10, the rejection rate may curb the economy. Thanks to TIL, farmers will supply better graded tobacco, inspiring more sales.