Despite the environmental and health risks, tobacco cultivation has increased in Jhenaidah. Hoping for bigger profits and lured by tobacco companies' attractive offers, farmers are turning more and more to the harmful crop. Hundreds of hectares of land in the district are losing fertility, heavy use of chemical fertiliser is changing the nature of the soil, and farmers are frustrated with the yields of other crops grown on former tobacco land.

Farmers say many growers are in the dark about the harms of tobacco farming, and there is no government initiative to curb it, so cultivation has grown compared with last year. Vast tobacco fields can be seen in Harinakunda, Maheshpur, Sadar and Shailkupa upazilas.

Farmers say other crops do fetch a price, but selling paddy, wheat or maize does not bring in a lot of money at once, which is why they have turned to tobacco. Tobacco companies are also accused of drawing farmers in with various inducements.

Farmers allege that tobacco must be sold to a particular company through an assigned card. The companies give farmers cash advances, which largely hold them hostage, so some are growing tobacco out of compulsion.

Ali Hossain, a tobacco grower from Basudebpur village in Chandpur union of Harinakunda upazila, told Jagonews24: "I grew tobacco on 4 bighas. Tobacco is something even cows and goats will not eat. It feels wrong to me. I will not grow tobacco again."

Akimul Hossain, a grower from the same village, said: "Many people grow tobacco without understanding it, hoping for more profit. But you have to know it costs about Tk 90,000 to Tk 95,000 to grow tobacco on a bigha. No other crop costs this much. We need to grow other cash crops that are good for health. We will not grow tobacco next year either."

Farmers said the price of tobacco was set at Tk 226 a kg last year. Tobacco comes in several grades by quality, and prices are set by grade; the best, A grade, is still selling at Tk 226 a kg this year. They said the companies are cleverly getting farmers to grow tobacco and the government should strengthen its role.

Zahidul Islam, a supervisor at the private company Global Tobacco Limited, told Jagonews24: "There is no scope to force farmers to grow tobacco. Farmers grow it hoping for profit. Many take cash advances for tobacco farming. Nothing more than that."

Montaj Mondal, a tobacco grower from the Sabek Binni Golzar More area, said: "I made a mistake growing tobacco. It completely destroys the soil's fertility. Once tobacco is planted in a field, other crops do not do well there. The smell and smoke from curing tobacco also pollute health and the environment. I will not grow tobacco again."

The district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) says tobacco has been grown on 229 hectares in the district this year, more than last year's 193 hectares. Of this, Harinakunda upazila alone accounts for 155 acres.

Locals say that although tobacco farming has spread unchecked, the upazila agricultural extension office has taken no action to stop it, and there is no government effort to raise awareness among farmers about its harms. Discontent is growing among concerned citizens.

Farmers in the district say tobacco farming must be limited. It prevents growing more than one crop on the same land, reduces soil fertility and is a danger to the environment. As tobacco is cured with fire village after village, toxic smoke spreads through the air, raising health risks.

Aminur Rahman Tuku, a former principal and journalist representing Jhenaidah's concerned citizens, told Jagonews24: "Tobacco is a harmful plant. Farmers should give it up, if only for the sake of their children's future, and grow other cash crops instead. The government must also take effective action. If tobacco farming can be reduced, smoking can be curbed. The dominance of tobacco companies must be reduced."

Shashti Chandra Roy, deputy director of the DAE in Jhenaidah, told Jagonews24: "Tobacco farming has increased compared with last year, most of all in Harinakunda upazila. We are trying to show farmers the harms of tobacco farming. Everyone has a responsibility to discourage it. I have learnt that the government is soon going to take up a programme on this. I hope we can greatly reduce tobacco farming next year."

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