TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN NTRM AND BEETLE BATTLE

The Tobacco Industry in the country is geared to fight Non-Tobacco Related Materials commonly known as NTRM and tobacco beetle in the fourth coming marketing season. This has been revealed as technical committee has been spread over the week end in all the tobacco growing areas in the country to sensitise all players to guard against the vices.

The meetings will be done from 13 to 14 February, 2023 at Bolero EPA Engucwin in the northern region, at Santhe, Wimbe, Nambuma (Chimundi), Kapiri and Nsipe in the central region, and at Nankumba, Nyezelera and Ngwelero in the southern region.

The exercise is actually a sensitisation meeting to farmers to avoid NTRM, nesting and promote hygiene, which mitigates tobacco beetle. The Malawi tobacco market is at risk of being shunned by buyers if these vices are not delt with. The industry complains of vendors who mix grades, use plastic sacks in tobacco handling, and do nesting for growers are well trained and highly sensitised. The exercise also provides an opportunity to present other tobacco trade related issues which groers face as challenges.

The Tobacco Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) is a very dangerous insect pest which threatens tobacco on the farm, at the Auction Floors and the Tobacco Industry in Malawi. Cases of Tobacco beetle all the four floors are persistent each year and the cost of control is considerably high. The occurrence of tobacco beetle in farms, at floors and in factories is unacceptable. Any infestation of tobacco beetle causes serious economic problems in processing, packaging, marketing and storage within the country or overseas. The existence of one beetle therefore can not be tolerated and will necessitate immediate fumigation and the cost of treatment is charged against the individual farmer.

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