In the hill areas of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari, farmers are turning to sunflower as an alternative crop to escape the harmful effects of tobacco farming. Many are moving to environment-friendly farming to avoid tobacco's strong smell and health risks. Among them is the farming couple of Uttam Kumar Chakma, of Tarabunia block in Kabakhali union of Dighinala upazila.

Instead of leasing their land out for tobacco, he has grown sunflower himself and opened a door to new possibilities. Yellow sunflowers now sway on his 40 decimals of land, which used to be leased to others for tobacco.

Uttam Kumar Chakma's wife, Sonali Chakma, said the strong smell of the pesticides and chemicals used on tobacco made it hard for the family to stay at home, and it was risky especially for children.

"We couldn't stay at home with the children because of the smell of the tobacco sprays. It often created a risk of illness too. So this time, on the advice of the upazila agriculture office, we started growing sunflower ourselves," she said.

According to the local agriculture office, the soil and climate of the hill region are well suited to sunflower. The crop can be grown at low cost and relatively low risk, and because sunflower oil is in demand, farmers also see good profit potential.

Uttam Kumar Chakma said: "Sunflower farming is much better than tobacco. The strong smell of tobacco pesticides and sprays makes it hard to live with the family. If I get government support, I want to grow sunflower on more land in future. The cost is low and the chance of profit is higher."

Dighinala upazila agriculture officer Md Shahadat Hossain said 40 farmers in the upazila were given sunflower seed and fertiliser this season under the agricultural incentive programme. Farmers are being encouraged to grow sunflower as an alternative to tobacco, and Uttam Kumar Chakma also received seed and fertiliser under the programme.

"There is potential for sunflower in the hill areas as a profitable and environment-friendly crop instead of tobacco. If proper care and marketing can be ensured, it can open up new economic opportunities for farmers," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.