Bangladesh: Tobacco Farming Threatens Crop Cultivation in Rangpur

Source from:  DhakaTribune 02/29/2016

A section of farmers in Rangpur have been cultivating tobacco for the last several years as they achieved quick profit. But this is ultimately threatening grain crops as their cultivation has reduced in that time span.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) SM Ashraf Ali said: "The farmers are still showing interests in tobacco farming due to more profits despite hectic government efforts to discourage its cultivation."

Tobacco farming still continues at larger scale in the region following high price and lucrative incentives being provided by the tobacco companies.

"The government has been discouraging tobacco cultivation through the DAE and other agriculture and environment related organisations to save soil fertility and public health as well as environment from pollution," he added.

According to DAE sources, farmers have so far cultivated tobacco on 16,507 hectares of land including 1,595 hectares in Rangpur, 115 hectares in Gaibandha, 11,075 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 3,722 hectares in Nilphamari districts in the region this season.

Tobacco cultivation did not increase during the last 2014-2015 seasons as the farmers cultivated the crop on 18,265 hectares land against 19,057 hectares of the previous 2013-2014 seasons in the region.

The farmers cultivated tobacco on 33,049 hectares of land during 2009-2010 seasons, 19,040 during 2010-2011 seasons, 12,665 hectares during 2011-2012 seasons and 17,793 hectares of land during 2012-2013 seasons in Rangpur agriculture region.

Harvest of tobacco will begin from February to end by March next and the farmers are expecting its bumper production this season as the tender plants are growing excellent amid favourable climatic conditions.

Farmers Echahaq Ali, Aiyub Ali, Azizul Islam and Abdul Khaleque of Kathihara village in Rangpur said they have cultivated tobacco on 1.5 to 2.5 acres of land this season like in the previous seasons.

They said they cultivate tobacco every year to get more profits than other crops and the tobacco companies encourage them through providing necessary inputs, cost-free seedlings and incentives with an assurance of lucrative prices.

According to the farmers, they generally spend Tk 20,000 to 22,000 for per acre of land in farming tobacco to produce 20 mounds per acre to earn a net profit of Tk60,000 to 70,000 on an average.

Ashraf said: "Farmers can earn more profits by cultivating wheat, sugarcane, hybrid variety mustard and other winter crops in relay methods using latest technologies." Enditem