India: Tobacco Farmers Protest against Curbs

Source from:  Business Line  11/08/2012

Ahead of the crucial Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meet in Seoul next week, the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) has opposed curbs on tobacco cultivation.

It alleged that farmers have been kept out of the discussions.　

Five top tobacco growing countries such as the US, Argentina, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Malawi have refused to sign the FCTC.

Curbing tobacco in one country is of no use. The smokers would get the products any how, ITGA members have said. "Farming is an identity. It could be lost if the proposed WHO guidelines are adopted and implemented. As the second largest tobacco producer in the world, India is especially at risk,” Antonio Abrunhosa, Chief Executive of ITGA, said.
 
He was here in connection with the launch of the campaign 'Save Our Farms', to alert the leaders about the threats presented by the irrational and extreme curbs on tobacco farming.
 
The Seoul meeting, scheduled to happen during November 12-17, would discuss proposals on mandating the seasons when tobacco can and cannot be grown; limiting and then reducing the land area where tobacco can be grown; restricting and stopping all financial and technical support for tobacco farming; and pushing FCTC-member countries to reduce tobacco production simultaneously.
 
"Bureaucrats with no real farming experience are actually trying to force the seasons when tobacco can and cannot be grown. If implemented this type of dangerous experimentation will devastate the livelihoods of millions,” Pammi Badri Reddy, President of the Service and Welfare Organisation for Farmers Development and Member - Tobacco Board of India, said.
 
Phasing out

The farmers said there was no viable alternative shown to them to shift.

"The guidelines have taken a new and dangerous direction by suggesting that the government should phase out tobacco crop through extreme regulations before viable alternatives have even been identified,” they said. Enditem