800 Tobacco Farmers Gather in Canoinhas

Source from:  Tobaccoleaf.org 11/21/2014

About 800 tobacco farmers gather at theA Firma Events Center, in Canoinhas/SC, to celebrate Tobacco Growers Day. It is an all-day event at theA Firma Events Center, organized by the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra), Federation of Agricultural Workers (Fetaesc), Federation of Agriculture and Livestock (Faesc) and Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), supported by the Municipal Administration of Canoinhas.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Afubra Treasurer Marcílio Laurindo Drescher, who reminded the participants of the fact that the tobacco supply chain sets an example for other supply chains. "The tobacco farmers do not only produce tobacco, but equally food crops", Drescher emphasized, whilst insisting that people should be proud of what they do.

Faesc vice-president, Enori Barbieri, recalled that the association is involved with activities that pursue a better life style for the growers. "Everything produced by the tobacco growers translates into income", he commented. For his part, the president of Fetaesc, José Walter Dresch, said that "We cannot afford to overlook such an important celebration, without urging society to take a deeper look at the question of tobacco". In his closing remark he insisted that we are going through a moment when courage is needed, acknowledging the activity as a source of income for lots of families.

SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke understands that all tobacco farmers should be proud of belonging to a supply chain that is as important as tobacco itself. "We generate jobs in towns and in the countryside, we represent a potential for the development of municipalities, once farm activities trigger opportunities in cities, especially when it comes to generating income and jobs. "We have many reasons to be proud of this legally instituted activity in Brazil", he said.

Rio Grande do Sul State deputy, Marcelo Moraes, mentioned the fight in Russia to let the world know that, when the subject is tobacco, only health-related arguments are not enough, seeing that social and economic questions are equally at stake, particularly in the countryside. "We have to make people aware of the upwards of 100 thousand families that derive their livelihood from the crop", he argued. To the farmers attending the event he made a point of saying that "those who grow tobacco are not involved with an illicit crop, and the governments should acknowledge it".

State Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Airton Spies, argued that all tobacco farmers are valuable workers who take part in the economy of Santa Catarina and make the State grow. "We are sure that tobacco's contribution extends through different links, generating jobs and income in the family farming segment, which needs highly intensive economic activities that generate income on small holdings. Tobacco is the crop that represents this income. It is not the size of the holding that defines its success, but the manner it is conducted. And Tobacco is a source of income, supported by high quality technical assistance, resulting into high productivity rates", Spies said.

The mayor of Canoinhas, Beto Faria, recalled the creation of AmproTabaco, which has come to join efforts with other entities involved in the sector, and represents the crop before society. "In Canoinhas alone, more than two thousand families grow tobacco, not to mention the entire supply chain, representing a fundamental role for the economy of the city. In the 2013/2014 growing season, agribusiness produce generated more than R$ 80 million in Canoinhas. This is an invitation for us to support the sector". Enditem