Despite being harmful to health and the environment, tobacco is being grown in Manikganj district in the hope of profit. This season tobacco has been grown on 355 hectares in three upazilas of the district, reducing food grain production on one hand and putting the environment and public health at risk on the other.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), tobacco was grown on 360 hectares in the district last year. This year it has fallen slightly to 355 hectares. Tobacco is grown most in Sadar, Ghior and Saturia upazilas.

According to experts, the toxic fertilisers and pesticides used in tobacco farming damage the soil and the environment. Chemical components of tobacco entering the bodies of field workers through breathing can damage the lungs and increase the risk of cancer. Women and children are exposed to serious health risks.

In Ashapur area of Ghior upazila, land where rice, wheat, maize and other crops were grown just a few years ago is now covered with tobacco alone.

Abul Kashem of Ashapur village said he grows maize and green chillies alongside tobacco. He claims no crop other than tobacco does well on this land. Maize costs more and earns less, while tobacco leaves some profit after all costs. The land here is mainly single-cropped: it floods in the monsoon, and when the water recedes at the end of the Bengali month of Kartik, cultivation has to start late. The right time to sow maize is the first week of Kartik, but the land is not ready then. Tobacco, on the other hand, can be sown even at the end of Agrahayan and leaves a profit of Tk 20,000-30,000 per bigha after costs.

Tobacco farmer Salam Madbar said he has grown tobacco on seven bigha this year. He used to grow black gram (mashkalai), grass pea (khesari) and wheat, but has now turned to tobacco because it earns more than those crops. He claims a profit of Tk 50,000-60,000 after costs.

Farmer Mohammad Faruk Mia said: "This time I have grown tobacco on 9 bigha. It cost about Tk 3 lakh. It will sell for about Tk 7 lakh. I know tobacco farming is harmful. I do it because I have to, as the profit is higher."

Health risks are also rising because the necessary protective equipment is not used when tobacco is processed. A housewife who did not want to be named said that handling tobacco leaves with bare hands and an uncovered face makes her dizzy and nauseous.

Shahjahan Siraj, deputy director of the DAE in Manikganj, said: "Tobacco farming has fallen somewhat this year because of awareness activities. Farmers have been encouraged to grow high-value alternative crops. The harmful effects of tobacco are being highlighted through courtyard meetings and training. We want farmers to move away from tobacco and produce profitable and safe crops."

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