Kenya: We Want Protective Wear, Say Tobacco Growers to Firms

Source from:  The Nation (Nairobi) March 20, 2006 Nation Correspondent 03/21/2006

Farmers have asked the Government to force tobacco companies to give them protective clothing. They said they risked contracting lung and skin diseases when attending to their farms due to lack of aprons, nose masks and gloves. The growers from Migori and Kuria said more than 30,000 tobacco farmers would benefit if the proposal was effected. Tobacco Bill "We spend a lot of money on tobacco-related ailments because of the attitude of these firms. This requirement should be included in the Tobacco Bill before it is passed in Parliament," said Mr David Ombohe. But British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced it would provide its contracted farmers with the outfit beginning next season. Leaf operations manager Paul Mburu said they were also going to give their growers medical cover. But Mastermind Tobacco's head of leaf department Francis Kimani said he would not comment on the matter. Alliance One managing director Graham Kayes said the materials were necessary although expensive. The company could provide them to growers on a credit basis, he said The companies however resolved not to engage in unethical practices ahead of the opening of the leaf buying season. They would open their markets on April 18 and would not poach leaf from one another as has been the practice. The firms said they would not buy tobacco from neighbouring countries until they had exhausted the domestic stock. Alliance One is a tobacco merchant exporting leaf to Europe and other parts of the world. Forest officials and those from the National Environment Management Authority asked the firms to preserve the environment. They said the use of woodfuel in curing the cash crop in the barns had reduced most tobacco growing areas in Nyanza, Eastern and Western to deserts. Mr Kayes said last week that poor infrastructure and high fuel cost had pushed up the overall cost of tobacco production in the country. Enditem