The Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) says it is pleased with the progress it has made in the 2019/2020 registration for tobacco growers.

Corporate planning and development manager for TCC  Hellings Nasoni made the remarks in an interview with YFM saying the registration process  was slow in the first weeks because most farmers had not finalized contractual arrangements with companies.

“We noticed that in the first weeks we had low numbers of farmers coming to register but because of the media releases this week our registration offices in Limbe Lilongwe, Kasungu and Mzuzu have been flooded with farmers who are coming for registration and licensing,” Nasoni said.

“The majority of our crop is being bought through contract arrangement and as per the new tobacco industry act number 10  of 2019 farmers are supposed to finalize contract arrangements with companies of their choice before registering.”

Nasoni also attributed the increase to the media releases they have been issuing.

The registration process which opened on 1 June 2019 will close on 30 September 2019.