22,000 Farmers Benefit From Tobacco Growing

Source from:  By Francis Openda eastandard.net 11/01/2006

More than 22,000 farmers grow tobacco in Kenya, with each getting between Sh260 and Sh417 every month. Whereas the farmers get a total of Sh500 million every year from the crop, the Government receives Sh5 billion as tax from its products within the same period. The area under tobacco is about 4,500 hectares or 0.19 per cent of Kenya's arable land. Tobacco usage in the country is widespread and an average of 13-15 per cent of primary school children aged 15 years have smoked at least once. About 22 per cent of those aged between 16 and 22 in secondary schools have smoked at least one while the figure at colleges and universities stands at about 52 per cent. Tobacco smoking can cause lung cancer, stroke, mouth cancer, gangrene, cancer of the larynx, cataracts and psoriasis – a non contagious skin condition that leaves itchy, red, scaly patches on the skin. Other types of cancer caused by smoking include those of the esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, leukemia and anus. Smoking can also lead to diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Enditem