Deforestation affects tobacco industry—AHL

Tobacco auctioneer Auction Holdings Limited (AHL) is concerned about the wanton cutting down of trees which has, among others, caused soil erosion, affecting the tobacco industry, which is the auctionner’s core business.

Limbe Auction Floors manager Moses Yoramu said this on Tuesday when the company conducted a tree-planting exercise at Gwauya Primary School in Ntcheu, where about 1 000 trees were planted.

He said the company adopted a programme to plant trees every year to minimise the effects of deforestation and to build a responsible citizenry that cares for trees and forests for the sustenance of present and future generations.

“Our core business is to sell tobacco. It is against this background that we are particularly concerned about deforestation effects because the tobacco industry uses a lot of trees.

“We, therefore, felt it is our responsibility to alleviate the effects of the deforestation by planting trees,” he said.

Yoramu said they adopted the programme in which every child is required to plant and take care of a tree, thereby improving vegetative cover.

Tobacco farmers, particularly those growing flue cured tobacco, the preserve of large estate growers, use a lot of trees for curing the leaf.

Group Village Head Mandala commended AHL for introducing the programme, especially in the area, stressing that being a tobacco growing area, trees are of great importance.

“We are particularly pleased with this gesture. Of late, trees have become a scarce resource because of the farming practice in this area. We will ensure that these trees are well taken care of and continue this practice every year,” he said.

AHL has engaged in a tree-planting exercise nationwide, particularly in tobacco growing areas.

Tobacco is Malawi’s main foreign exchange earner, contributing about 60 percent to forex earnings and 13 percent to the national economy.