Tobacco cultivation expands in CHT
It reduces soil fertility, damages environment, replaces other crops: Occupied 2626 hectares of plain land last year against 2000 hectares in FY 2004-5
A vast tobacco field in Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari.Photo: Star File Photo
Commercial cultivation of tobacco is increasing in the three hill districts despite protests by environmentalists, damaging the environment, reducing soil fertility and occupying more and plain lands earlier used for growing rice and other crops. Besides, at least 30 to 40 thousand tonnes of firewood are burnt in about 2000 tobacco processing kilns (chulli) a year, depleting natural forests, environmentalists said. Over 2626 hectares of land were brought under tobacco cultivation in the three districts last year against 2000 hectares in 2004-2005 financial year, sources in Agriculture Extension Department (AED) said. The area will increase in the coming season, they said. Last year's break-up areas under tobacco cultivation was 2312 hectares in Bandarban, 209 in Khagrachhari and 105 in Rangamati. Unofficial estimate will be much more, other sources said. Last year, total production was 5758 tonnes worth about Tk 100 crore, of which 5440 tonnes were produced in Bandarban, 209 in Khagrachhari and 109 in Rangamati. Market price of a kilogram of tobacco is Tk 150 to Tk 200. Tow varieties --virginia and local variety are cultivated in CHT, AED sources said. Its cultivation starts in November. “We are discouraging farmers not to cultivate tobacco as it seriously affects soil fertility and environment,” an official in Rangamati AED told this correspondent seeking anonymity. Tobacco needs more fertiliser than other crops. At least 150 kilograms of fertilisers is applied per hectare and in addition, high-power pesticides like Diconal and DDT powder are used in tobacco farms, threatening public health and environment, he said. Tobacco is normally cultivated on low-lying plain lands areas, occupying lands suitable for other crops. The sources said farmers are now virtually captive to tobacco companies who supply all inputs either in cash or in kind and buys the product. Some 7,000 farmers are involved in tobacco farming in CHT, AED sources said. Staffs of tobacco companies visit from door to door and woo farmers, assuring all support and buy back facility, some farmers told this correspondent. Each farmer gets assistance worth Tk 7000 for 40 decimals lands to cultivate tobacco, an official of a tobacco company said. Contacted, Dewan Aminul Islam Nasim, assistant leaf officer of British American Tobacco in Khagrachhari said tobacco is a cash crop for farmers and its cultivation is not banned. Besides, BAT, there are six other companies involved with tobacco farrners. Pradip Chowdhury, convenor of Khagrachhari Paribesh Suraksha Andolan, said we are trying to motivate farmers against tobacco cultivation. He said huge quantities of vegetables were produced in Dighinala and Mohalchhari ten years ago. Now tobacco has occupied a substantial portion of the lands. Md. Abu Daud, member of Bangladesh Paribesh Ainjibi Samity in Khagrachhari said green forests are shrinking as huge quantities of firewood are burnt in numerous tobacco processing kilns (chulli). Contacted, TM Monjurul Islam, Deputy Director of AED, in Khagrachhari said besides use of more fortiliser, tobacco keeps the land occupied for about 130 days as the companies buy the crop in phases. AED Deputy Director in Bandarban KM Lokman Hossain said roots of tobacco plants usually penetrate about 10 inches into the soil, which seriously affects fertility. Roots of other crops normally does go beyond four inches into the soil, he added. “We are encouraging farmers to cultivate maize and wheat and giving them seeds”, he added. In Bandarban, tobacco is grown extensively in Ruma, Lama, Alikadam, Thanchi, Nikhyangchhari, Rowangchhari and Sadar upazilas. Kolabuniya, Gorosthan and Bhusionchhar in Barkal upazila and some areas in Longdu, Baghaichhari and Jurachhari are tobacco growing areas in Rangamati. In Khagrachhari, it is grown in Dighinala, Mainee valley, Panchhari, and Ramgarh. The tobacco companies have already distributed seeds, fertiliser, polythene bags, pesticide and loans to their registered farmers, who have started preparing seed beds. Jagat Jyoti Chakma, chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, farmers should be discouraged from tobacco cultivation. This can be done by giving more assistance for other crops.
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