May 31 was World Tobacco Free Day. The theme of the National Tobacco Control Cell this year is 'Resist tobacco company interference, ensure children's safety' - which is also being conveyed through text messages to every mobile phone user.
In addition, every year around this day, various programs are held all over the country. How successful are these efforts in practice? Exactly the opposite information is found in Gaibandha!
Tobacco is being cultivated in Gaibandha despite knowing the sure loss for the sake of more profit. The cultivation of tobacco in the district is increasing day by day due to the low cost of cultivation compared to other crops that can be produced in the district, the lure of tobacco buying companies, the advance assurance of sale of tobacco products and the lure of higher profits.
Although the agriculture department claims that the tobacco cultivation is decreasing day by day due to encouraging farmers to cultivate other crops by discouraging them from growing tobacco. But in reality the picture is different! This cultivation of ‘poison plant’ is not decreasing but increasing every year in the district.
According to the information received from Gaibandha Agriculture Department, British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) Company and sources related to agriculture, last year (2023) 10 hectares i.e. 75 bighas of land was cultivated, but this year it has increased three times and tobacco has been cultivated in 29 hectares i.e. 217 bighas of land. Most of its cultivation has been done in Sundarganj, Palashbari and Sadullapur upazilas of Gaibandha district.
The agriculture department and agriculture stakeholders say that farmers are becoming interested in tobacco cultivation as they get more benefits from tobacco buying companies. Due to this, ongoing government incentives are not working.
However, conscious circles and environmentalists said that to reduce tobacco cultivation, more publicity should be given highlighting its harmful aspects and more incentives should be given to the agricultural sector.
According to the researches of various institutions, health and agriculture stakeholders said that while working in the tobacco fields, a tobacco farmer unknowingly absorbs the nicotine equivalent of about 50 cigarettes a day. The results are dire.
Domestic and foreign tobacco companies are threatening the country's food security in the long term by tempting the farmers with some cash gains in the short term.
In addition, tobacco plants absorb about two and a half times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus and eight times more potassium from the soil than other crops. This results in rapid depletion of nutrients from the soil of tobacco farming land, making the soil infertile.
Tobacco farmers said that the companies help them in various ways from supplying tobacco seeds, sowing tobacco seeds and picking tobacco leaves and even storage process. The company concerned regularly inquired about the cultivation.
Apart from this, although relatively little effort is required in tobacco cultivation, the production and its profit (profit) is at least 8-10 times more than other crops and farmers are turning to tobacco because of the huge demand for tobacco leaves.
They said, after planting the tobacco plant in Agrahayan, its leaves start picking up within five months. At least eight bales (one bale equals fifty kg) of tobacco is produced per bigha of land. The price of one bale of tobacco is TK. 6-7 thousand. According to that, the price of tobacco produced per bigha is Tk. 50-60 thousand, which costs only five to seven thousand taka in production.
Musa Mia (65), a very old tobacco grower of Ekbarpur village in Idilpur union of Sadullapur upazila first started tobacco cultivation in that area six-seven years ago.
Musa Mia said, I was the first to start tobacco cultivation in this area. Tobacco Seed Company provided. It can be said that they bear most of the expenses in cultivation. Later we calculate with tobacco leaves.
He said that the company has given me glasses, body wear and hand gloves so that there is no difficulty in farming.
Musa Mia said that many people in the area are now cultivating tobacco after seeing these benefits. Profitable too. 5/6 thousand takas are spent on one bigha land and the income is Tk. 50-60 thousand.
Several farmers of the area expressed their interest in tobacco cultivation citing similar facilities. One of them is Abdul Majid Mia. He first started tobacco cultivation in that area last season.
Majid Mia said, I planted tobacco on two bigha land for the first time last season. There is no profit in rice cultivation except cost. Tobacco cultivation is several times more profitable than rice.
In response to the question whether he knows about the dangers of tobacco, Majid said, "I know that smoking causes lung cancer." People die. I don't do drugs or bidi-cigarettes. But it is profitable farming, so I am starting farming'.
When asked about the harm of tobacco, the supervisor of Gaibandha District Hospital Dr. Mahbub Hossain told Barta24.com on mobile phone, "From the production of tobacco products to marketing, a total of 14 grams of carbon dioxide is released in the environment from a single cigarette. The result is very terrible! Tobacco mainly affects the heart, liver and lungs. Smoking causes heart attack, stroke. Tobacco use increases the risk of lung, pancreas, larynx and oral cavity cancer.
At this time, he emphasized on the implementation of the law besides raising awareness about tobacco.
General Secretary of 'Paribesh Andolan' Gaibandha Ziaul Haque Johnny told Barta24.com, "The companies are giving various benefits to the farmers in tobacco cultivation including advance money and the farmers are leaning towards tobacco cultivation due to these temptations. Many farmers do not know its harmful side. Many conscious farmers are knowingly cultivating it because of extra profit.
He said, "Those farmers who cultivate tobacco regularly, tobacco leaf cultivation. Its cultivation can be reduced if they are given more incentives to produce crops like paddy, jute, sugarcane, wheat, kalai, mustard and maize by making them aware of the evils.
In this regard, Khorshed Alam, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Gaibandha, told Barta24.com on cell phone, "Farmers are nowhere encouraged to grow tobacco." Regular advice and incentives are being given to farmers to produce various crops including maize, wheat, rice, jute, pepper by discouraging them from tobacco cultivation.
In response to the question why tobacco plantations are increasing in the district after all this time, this official said, "Farmers are becoming interested after receiving more benefits from the companies, especially seeds, pesticides, advice and various cultivation materials including assurance of sale. However, we continue to try to reduce it'.
Palashbari (Gaibandha) Managing Director of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) Company Ashraful Haque told on Cell phone Barta24.com, "Tobacco cultivation in Gaibandha is very less compared to other districts. But now it is increasing day by day.
In response to the question of what kind of assistance and advice are given to the farmers in tobacco cultivation, this official said, 'To benefit the farmers, they regularly visit the tobacco fields with seeds at a low price, keep track of the quality of tobacco leaves, and if there is any disruption in cultivation. All kinds of suggestions are given.
Apart from this, the company provides free clothing, hand gloves and eye glasses to the farmers to ensure that the farmers do not suffer any physical harm while cultivating tobacco.
The government is also giving such benefits to agricultural crops. But even after that, what is the secret behind the increase in tobacco farmers, he said in response to the question, "Actually, the farmers get advance assurance of the sale of these tobacco products." We provide all kinds of tools and facilities in farming. Not only that, farmers are given 100% guarantee that they will not suffer financially and physically.
