India: Tobacco Farmers to Intensify Stir against WHO Norms

Source from:  Hindu Business Line  09/10/2012

Tobacco farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other States are gearing up to intensify their opposition to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , stating it posed a threat to their livelihood. The farmers are especially opposing several Articles in the FCTC that deal with regulation, testing, measuring and disclosure of contents. The draft guidelines for implementation of these articles have already been prepared by the designated working groups of the WHO and slated to be considered for adoption during the Fifth conference of FCTC signatories in November. Farmers' bodies across these States, which gathered at the 13{+t}{+h} awards function of the Tobacco Institute of India here , resolved to step up their fight against these FCTC guidelines through the Centre. Impact "The FCTC guidelines will have a devastating impact on the livelihood of farmers and blunt India's edge in the export market," P. Bhadri Reddy, Member on the Tobacco Board, said. The WHO draft guidelines for Articles 17 & 18 of the FCTC envisages phasing out of tobacco farming by reducing the area under cultivation and dismantling trade bodies that promote tobacco, such as the Tobacco Board in India. Other Articles recommend prohibition of all ingredients and additives used by the tobacco industry. "This recommendation will affect our tobacco farmers because Indian cigarette tobaccos are essentially semi-flavoured. "If these guidelines are adopted, these could render over 30 per cent of our production unusable. Not only will there be a sharp decline in prices, but even export earnings will be seriously impacted," Udayan Lall, TII Director, points out. The institute points out big tobacco producers, including the US, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Indonesia, who have not ratified the FCTC, could easily increase their production to cash in on the shortfall. "India is the world's third largest tobacco producer, with an estimated production of 700 million kg and providing direct and indirect employment to 38 million people. Last fiscal, India earned about Rs 4,200 crore from tobacco exports. Enditem