Authorities place sights on improving Malawi’s tobacco markets

The Tobacco Commission has launched the Know Your Grower (KYG) project, an initiative aimed at improving the traceability of Malawi’s tobacco to enhance the country’s competitiveness on the international market.

In a press release issued today, the Commission said the registration exercise will begin on July 27, requiring all club members and estate owners to appear in person to provide their details before they can be licensed for the 2026/2027 growing season.

The Commission said the project will improve the national tobacco grower database by capturing key information, including growers’ personal details, farm locations, land size, household information and tobacco production records to meet international buyers’ requirements.

Meanwhile, Under the second phase of the project, Commission-appointed officers will visit growers’ homes and farms to capture their locations using geo-tagging technology, making it easier to trace tobacco from production to the market.

The Commission says participation in the KYG exercise will determine growers’ eligibility to sell tobacco during the 2026/2027 marketing season, describing the initiative as an important step towards improving confidence among international buyers.