In 2017, Auctions Holdings Limited (AHL) reported a 30% decrease in tobacco sales. By that time, 106.5Kgs were sold for a total of $212.4m; a major setback compared to the the 195kgs that were sold in 2016, for a whopping $276.4m

2017 brought disappointment to tobacco farmers because most of their harvest was rejected by buyers. Reuters reported that an average of 10% of harvest was rejected as poor quality.

Taking the heavy blow, farmers were discouraged as tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) encouraged the farmers to work harder.

This year Malawi sold tobacco for up to $336m. Malawi relies on the crop as it contributes 48% of Malawi’s total foreign currency, and trade experts have expressed concern if the crop should face another setback in the coming selling season.