By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, May 28, Mana: The parliamentary committee on agriculture and irrigation is impressed that the payment system which caused hurdles to tobacco farmers and hindered them to access their dues on time has been rectified.

In an interview in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Deputy Chairperson for the committee, Ulemu Chilapondwa, acknowledged the challenges which caused delays to effect payment.

"It was a problem to do with a new system whereby they had one company buying in Malawi Kwacha and the rest in United States Dollars. And for them to bring together that system, they had to rework on it and bring a new system to ensure everything is normal," said Chilapondwa.

He said, as a committee, they are happy with what they have heard from both the Tobacco Commission and Auction Holdings on how they have worked tirelessly to have the system working perfectly for the benefit of the farmers.

Public Relations Officer for Tobacco Commission, Telephorus Chigwenembe, said they are impressed with how the committee took interest on how tobacco trading is progressing this season.

"There were some challenges with information technology systems, human resources officers, banks and also delays in payments from some tobacco buying companies. The good thing is that all these issues have been resolved," said Chigwenembe.