Farmers turning tobacco growers

Loans disbursed by tobacco companies and higher profits from tobacco farming are making more and more farmers turn to this sector, ignoring the health hazards of working in fields where these plants are cultivated.

"Even though I am suffering from various physical disorders including chest pain and breathing problems, I have to go to the tobacco field to work," Ghonapara village resident, 32-year old Mariam Begum told bdnews24.com.

She said that working at the tobacco fields earns her only around Tk 100 a day, but she has no other option, as farming of other crops is fast fading.

Haridas Roy, who is a labour for a tobacco mill in Tupamari, suffers similar ailments. "Even though my eyesight is getting weaker day by day and I am suffering from breathing problems, chest pain and insomnia, I have to continue working only to survive."

"Despite its harmful effects, the farmers are turning to tobacco cultivation as it earns them greater profits," Nilphamari's civil surgeon Dr Abdul Majid Sarker reasoned.

"Eventually the number of smokers and tobacco chewers in the area is also rising," the doctor said pointing to the accompanying ills and ailments.

THE ECONOMIC VICE

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) deputy director A B M Mostafizur attributes the rising trend of tobacco cultivation in the northern district to the failure of the government to ensure proper prices for other crops.

"The farmers' interest has increased as they are not getting proper prices for other crops. Besides, the tobacco companies are providing support…in the form of advance loans."

The resultant boom is amazing. According to official statistics, farmers are cultivating tobacco over 5,000 hectares this year, a 1000-hectare rise from the previous year.

Farmers said that tobacco was sown just after the harvest of the Aman crops. With an initial investment of around Tk 15,000 per acre, cultivation of tobacco leads to a net profit of around Tk 30,000-35,000 per acre when the crops are cashed.

They added that cigarette companies have disbursed advance loans to more than 3,000 of them amounting roughly to Tk 12.8 million.

"Many companies like Akij Biri Factory [Limited] have loaned farmers Tk 4,000 in advance for per acre of tobacco cultivation. Company officials regularly visit the fields to inspect the production," tobacco farmer Hafizur Rahman, 24, from Tupamari union, said.

"The borrowers are bound in the deal to sell their crop to the lending company. Otherwise, they might face difficulties."

Masud Ali Shah Fakir, 40, said that he took Tk 8,000 as loan from Akij Tobacco Company to cultivate on two acres of land.

Other cigarette and chewing tobacco producing companies like Varosha, Rashida biri, Bengal Tobacco, Abul Tobacco, Akij Biri, Khaled Gul, Tarik Gul, Touhid Gul and Sakib Gul also extend advance loans to promote tobacco farming.