Farmers in the district of Mecanhelas, in Niassa province, expect to generate around 670 million meticais in the current tobacco marketing season through the sale of 7,550 tonnes of the cash crop, which is considered one of the main sources of income in the region.
According to Lusa, to ensure the flow of production to market, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco (MLT), the company responsible for promoting the crop, has set up four trading centres located in the village of Insaca, in the localities of Carronga and Chamba, as well as in the administrative post of Chiúta.
The information was provided by the director of the District Economic Activities Service (SDAE) of Mecanhelas, Dário António, who described the progress of the campaign as satisfactory, highlighting encouraging prospects for participating producers.
According to the source, 482 tonnes of tobacco have already been sold, generating approximately 28 million meticais and benefiting 465 farmers involved in this agricultural campaign.
Dário António recalled that in the previous season the district produced 6,133 tonnes of tobacco, generating revenues of around 666 million meticais. For this year, expectations are more optimistic, driven by the introduction of a new marketing model implemented by Mozambique Leaf Tobacco, aimed at improving the quality of tobacco purchased.
“The new system prioritises the purchase of higher-quality tobacco, which results in better prices for farmers and could significantly increase income levels,” he explained.
Tobacco farming continues to play an important role in driving the economic activity of several rural communities in Niassa, contributing to household income generation and strengthening commercial agriculture in the province.
Source: Diário Económico
