Kenyan Famers Reject WHO Ban on Tobacco

Source from:  Kenya Broadcasting Corporation  10/29/2013

Kenyan tobacco growers have opposed plans by the World Health Organization (WHO) to push them to a way from growing the cash crop.

They believed that efforts by WHO could see them smell poverty within the growing region both in Western Nyanza and Eastern Kenya.

The farmers from Malakisi further opposed a move by WHO to push alternative crops such as coffee, tea, sugar cane and cotton which take long for one to get its cash unlike tobacco.

The Farmers' representative David Wekesa said farmers the earnings cannot be compared to the current cash crop like tobacco.

He added Kenya alone contributed 14 billion in revenue collection last year-making it one of the top single performer.

"The ban on tobacco shall leave the government crippled financially" He said.

More than 20,000 farmers have been contracted by the tobacco and cigarette industry.

Elsewhere, farmers  in Trans Nzoia County have been discouraged against relying on maize farming as their sole source of income but instead diversity farming.

Area county director of agriculture Mr. Edward Osanyi implored farmers to start growing other crops like soya beans in order to avoid incurring losses in case of vagaries of weather or disease infestations.

Mr. Osanyi also observed that soya beans currently have an insatiable market demand as oil products which are cholesterol free are extracted from the crop produce.

He explained that already field agricultural officers have embarked on sensitization program to educate farmers of the importance and benefits of diversification and especially growing soya beans. Enditem