The Media Network on Tobacco (MNT) in Malawi has urged the country's tobacco growers to register under the Know Your Grower (KYG) Initiative, warning that delays could affect their access to formal markets and weaken the tobacco industry. According to MNT President Alfred Chauwa, the initiative is crucial for improving transparency, traceability, and accountability in the tobacco value chain. The KYG Initiative was launched by the Tobacco Commission on 27 July 2026.
As of 27 October, about 70,000 of Malawi's estimated 170,000 active tobacco growers had registered under the KYG Initiative, leaving nearly 100,000 yet to sign up. MNT has expressed concern over the slow pace of registration, emphasising that it is a requirement for grower licensing during the 2026/27 season and participation in the forthcoming tobacco marketing season. The network has urged growers' associations to intensify mobilisation efforts, particularly in remote areas.
MNT has also called on tobacco buyers to provide technical support, extension services, and logistical assistance to facilitate registration. Strengthening traceability is critical to addressing international concerns over child and forced labour, the network believes. Children must be protected from hazardous activities in tobacco farming, including handling green tobacco leaves, exposure to pesticides, and carrying heavy loads.
Ending child labour requires a collective effort from government, the tobacco industry, traditional leaders, development partners, and communities themselves, according to Chauwa. MNT has called for stronger labour inspections, improved social protection programmes, and greater access to education. The network believes that these measures are essential to protecting children from exploitation in the tobacco sector.
MNT has further appealed to media organisations to disseminate verified seasonal weather forecasts and agricultural information to help farmers manage El Niño-related rainfall risks during the 2026/27 growing season. The network also urged the Tobacco Commission to regularly publish registration updates, improve access to registration services, and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
The success of the KYG Initiative should not only be measured by the number of registered growers but also by improved market access, protected livelihoods, and the elimination of child labour, Chauwa added. The initiative is a key step towards ensuring that Malawi's tobacco industry is sustainable and responsible. The country's tobacco sector is a significant contributor to the economy, and efforts to improve its sustainability are crucial.
The Media Network on Tobacco's call for action comes as the country marks World Tobacco Growers Day, observed on 28 October under the theme 'Ending Child Labour and Promoting Education: A Shared Responsibility for a Brighter Future'. The theme highlights the need for collective action to address the challenges facing tobacco growers and the importance of protecting children from exploitation in the sector.
Key points
- The Media Network on Tobacco urges faster registration of growers under the Know Your Grower Initiative.
- The network calls for stronger measures to combat child labour in the tobacco sector.
- The initiative aims to improve transparency, traceability, and accountability in the tobacco value chain.
