More than 4 million kilograms of tobacco remain unsold at Mzuzu Floors in Malawi, even after the Tobacco Commission (TC) extended the marketing season — a situation farmers warn could push them into financial ruin. The unsold leaf is valued at about K17.2 billion ($9.8 million) and is both a personal disaster for growers and a threat to a national economy that relies on tobacco for more than half of its foreign exchange earnings.

Many farmers say they took loans expecting to repay them from sales, but with buyers pulling back and prices falling, they are now trapped in debt. “We can’t pay workers or send our children to school,” said Chitipa farmer Hazwell Chikakuda, whose buyers canceled contracts mid-season. “Buyers backed out, and I’ve been selling the remaining leaf at throwaway prices. We feel abandoned.”

TC spokesperson Telephorous Chigwenembe confirmed that large volumes of leaf remain unsold both on and off the market, blaming an oversupply for the problem. Tama Farmers Trust CEO Nixon Lita said demand has slowed as stocks accumulate.

Malawi sold 218.9 million kg of tobacco this season, worth $539.4 million — up from $396 million last year — but the current glut now threatens foreign-exchange inflows and broader economic stability. Economists warn that without intervention or diversification, the country risks deepening its dependence on a volatile crop. “Unsold tobacco means unpaid loans, empty pockets, and a weaker economy.”