Smoking discouraged, not tobacco cultivation

Farmers harvesting tobacco in a village in Rangpur Sadar Upazila. PHOTO: STAR

Despite the anti-smoking campaign by the government, NGOs and civil society bodies, tobacco cultivation increased substantially in seven southwestern districts, Rangpur and Nilphamari in last two years at the cost of other crops like wheat, mustard seeds and vegetables, mainly due to assistance to farmers by cigarette and Bidi companies.

They provided interest-free loans, seed, fertiliser, technical support and buy back facilities to farmers, according to our correspondents in the region.

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Cultivation of the harmful crop increased at a time when the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) is implementing its North West Crop Diversification Project (NCDP) with the help of two NGOs --Brac and Prosika -- to keep farmers away from it.

Amanur Aman reports from Kushtia:

Tobacco cultivation increased to 22,435 hectares of land in the seven southwestern districts of Kushtia, Jhenidah, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jessore, Magura and Rajbari this year from 20, 222 hectares last year. In 2003, the crop was cultivated on 17,000 hectares in the region.

Cigarette and Bidi companies including a big multinational one fixed tobacco production target at 40,000 tonnes this year in the seven districts against 32,000 tonnes last year, according to sources in the companies.

This year, the multinational company gave loans and other assistance to farmers to cultivate tobacco on 9,547 hectares, up from last year's 7,000 hectares, sources in the company told this correspondent.

The rest 12,888 hectares are under farmers assisted by other companies.

The companies gave loans up to Tk 5000 against one bigha (30 decimal) of land, with buy-back assurances.

The companies have a large number of field workers to do the job, sources said.

This correspondent talked to several farmers in Meherpur, Chuadanga and Rajbari during visits on Wednesday and Thursday. The farmers admitted getting loans and other facilities from cigarette companies but declined to be named.

A farmer in Gobindagunia in Meherpur said his name will be dropped from the list (of a company) if his name is published in an newspaper.

Some officials of the multinational company, when contacted, however said they are giving priority to export of cigarette than marketing those at home.

They said Bangladeshi cigarettes are being exported to some European countries, Thailand and Myanmar. The company earned 43 lakh Dollars in 2002, 72 lakh in 2003 and 75 lakh in 2004 by exporting cigarette produced from tobacco grown in the country.

Some other companies together earned 7 lakh dollars in 2002, 12 lakh in 2003 and 11 lakh in 2004, it was gathered.

Rafique Sarker reports from Rangpur:

The area under tobacco cultivation has almost doubled in the district in the last several years. About 12000 hectares of land were brought under its cultivation this year, according to sources in the AED.

High prices of tobacco last year inspired farmers in the district to cultivate it in large scale in the current season, farmers said.

The price was Tk 18000 to 2500 per maund last year, which varied from Tk 550 to 800 two-three years back, traders said.

Tobacco is cultivated in eight upzilas in the district-- Gangachara, Taraganj and Rangpur Sadar upazilas being the main producers.

Some 30 cigarette companies are purchasing tobacco in Rangpur. Most the purchasers have set up depots on either side of Rangpu-Dinajpur highway. A multinational company has also set up a big purchasing centre in Rangpur.

This correspondent talked to a number of tobacco dealers and farmers at Hazirhat and Uttom markets. They

agreed that the tendency among farmers for tobacco production in Rangpur is increasing once again after a lull a decade back.

DAE initiatives to discourage tobacco cultivation and encourage other winter crops like wheat and vegetables have totally stopped in the district, it is alleged.

EAM Asaduzzaman reports from Nilphamari:

Production of tobacco is increasing in the district.

Incentives by tobacco traders and cigarette and Bidi companies, lack of effective anti-tobacco motivation and favourable weather are responsible for this, it was gathered.

Tobacco cultivation had declined in the district about a decade back and farmers got inclined to IRRI-Boro paddy, wheat and other winter crops like mustard seeds and vegetables following crops diversification programme by the government and some NGO.

As tobacco production fell, cigarette and Bidi companies and some big tobacco traders provided interest free loan, fertiliser, seed and advice to farmers. This worked very well and the cultivation and production rose again at the cost of other crops.

Statistics collected from DAE (Department of Agriculture Extension) shows that last year, tobacco was cultivated on 10, 800 hectares of land in the district, which has jumped to 13,500 hectors this year.

Wheat cultivation declined from 14,800 hectares to 9,950 hectares, mastered seed from 850 hectares to 725 hectares, jute from 12,500 hectares to 10,620 hectares. Production of other crops including vegetables ahas also declined.

Visiting different village including Itakhola, Tupanani in Nilphamari Sadar, Deshibai and Tengonmari in Jaldhaka upazila and Putimari in Kishoregang upazila, this correspondent found that some Bangladeshi companies had given farmers interest free loans up to Tk 5000 each, fertiliser, seeds and even technical support.

Interestingly, tobacco farmers, unlike IRRI-Boro cultivators, did not face any problem due to high price of fertiliser this year. Tobacco plants are disease resistant, needs little irrigation and farmers can easily produce and preserve seeds.

The price is Tk 800 to 1200 this year depending on varieties against last year's Tk 1200 to 2000 a maund.

Three varieties of tobacco are produced in the district. These are Virginia (for cigarette), Motihar for bidi and Jai variety for producing chewing tobacco.

Tobacco cultivation on one bigha of land costs up to Tk 1500 but the product can be sold at Tk 6000 to Tk 10,000, some farmers said.

There is no marketing problem as there are at least 20 big tobacco companies ready to purchase tobacco from different markets in the district.

When contacted DAE Deputy Director Shakhawat Hossen said they do not provide any support for tobacco cultivation.

They have launched the North West Crops Diversification Project (NCDP) with the help of two NGOs --Brac and Prosika -- to keep farmers away from tobacco cultivation.

But the DD admitted that under the prevailing situation, farmers will not give up tobacco cultivation as it is easier and more profitable.

He (DD) suggested that the government should think about ways to discourage tobacco cultivation. One option may be to limit its cultivation through registration of farmers, he said.