Kenya: Tobacco Farmers' Ambitions Go Up in Smoke

Source from:  The Nation (Nairobi) March 21, 2006 George Agimba 03/21/2006

Shortly after tobacco was introduced as a commercial crop in South Nyanza, it became a major success. For some years tobacco farming was a lucrative venture. But that was about three decades ago. The crop is no longer popular. Breaking even - let alone making any profit - in tobacco farming is a herculean task among the peasants who grow it. From Homa-Bay to Migori and Kuria districts, there are numerous tales of misery, which have replaced those of excitement over tobacco farming. Heart-rending tales Kuria District, which is today regarded the hub of tobacco growing in southern Nyanza, has thousands of heart-rending tales of misery, regret and suffering. Regrettably, it is in this district where one will meet tens of farmers who have been growing tobacco since their childhood. Most are now in their 70s, but are living in ramshackle houses, have children who have not gone to school and no money for health care. Ironically, multinational tobacco companies continue to buy millions of tonnes of tobacco but very little of the billions they make trickles down to the farmer. For all their efforts, farmers are paid very poorly for their crop. They continue to raise their voices against exploitation by the companies but their cries are in vain. "Our efforts to appeal for improved prices and reduced input costs to put us afloat and save the industry from collapse in this district have never received a positive response from these companies, reducing us to what we are today," says Mzee Matayo Otaigo, 60, who has been growing tobacco all his life. Mr Thomas Nyaiki says since the early 1980s, he has been producing good quality tobacco but earning very little. Surveys that have been done in the area in the recent past show that tobacco growers are living in abject poverty. Long gone are the days tobacco farming in the district was considered lucrative. Rising inflation and stagnant prices, are among the causes for the current situation. Risk of disease The little profit from the crop is no longer appealing. Farmers have realised the magnitude of the exploitation that goes with its production. Besides the poor earnings, the risks of having the crop destroyed through natural calamities, and high chances of farmers contracting diseases during the planting and curing processes, have no doubt had a lot to do with eroding the people's goodwill towards tobacco farming. "When a farmer begins to realise that his life and those of his family are potentially at risk because of growing tobacco, then he or she begins to wonder if the pros of continuing with the crop's farming outweigh the cons," said Mr Lucas Chacha of ActionAid Kenya, who has been championing the rights of tobacco farmers in the area and protection from exploitation by the multinationals. Mr Chacha, who has also been leading a serious campaign to stop farmers from growing the crop and venturing into alternative farming - of crops such as sunflower, groundnuts, passion fruit and others - believes that the risks faced in tobacco farming far outweigh the gains. Having worked in the tobacco industry for many years before, he says, from experience, the risks posed to people are increasing by the day. The cautions issued by health experts every day are not for nothing, he says, and urges the Government not to overlook them. Experts say the curing stage of the tobacco production process is the most dangerous. Farmers get infected a lot at this stage because they inhale tobacco smoke in the drying bans. But all these concerns raised by health specialists about the bans have not been positively received by the tobacco companies, which maintain that the process is safe and does not affect the health of the farmers. Company officials have gone on record saying that contrary to reports on the curing methods, the process has improved tremendously over the past few years. Now there are more advanced furnaces and less fuel is used, they say. The companies say they have reviewed their policies to protect the health of the farmers and the environment, explaining that the Mark IV furnaces are more healthy and environment-friendly than the Mark III ones used in the 1970s. However, if indeed the current prices do not allow farmers to break even, why do they continue growing and selling the commodity to companies they claim are exploiting them? Some farmers attributed their continued farming of the crop to poverty, which they say forces them to grow it just to meet basic needs. What seems to be promoting this cycle is the fact that they are paid cash - an attractive way to keep the companies in business. Farmers reluctant Farmers are reluctant to abandon the crop because of the ready cash, even if it is little. The companies are also holding their breath, knowing the farmer can only be pushed so far. Dwindling tobacco production has them worried. But Juma Wankio, who says he has nothing to show for the 10 years he has been growing tobacco, says this need not be. Says he: "Farmers can produce enough tobacco, but the potential must be tapped through lucrative prices." Only time will tell whether the future is bleak for the entire tobacco industry, but for now, everyone involved has their fingers crossed, hoping for the best. Enditem