Number of people entering the market has been limited and it is a must to wash hands and wear face masks.

Tobacco growers are not available at the market and are inserted being represented by officials from farmer organizations such as Tama Farmers Trust and Smallholder Farmers Association.

Another notable change is on the way buyers are making offers on tobacco bales.

One buyer is being allowed to walk through the lines and make offers at a time and later , AHL Group will be carryout a tallying exercise to establish which tobacco bales go to a particular buyer at what cost in reference to the offers.

However, tobacco sold under contract farming on the first day was on prices of up to 2 dollar 20 cents.

A total of 9 buyers are available at the Lilongwe Auction Floors and they include a new buyer, Voedsel from Zimbabwe.

Minister of Agriculture Francis Kasaila visited the market few hours after opening.

It is expected that Tobacco market at Limbe Auction Floors shall start on Monday next week and in Mzuzu the market shall commence on 4 May.

Up to 155 Million Kilograms of tobacco are expected to be sold this year.