Tobacco cultivation has increased in Rajbari. Poor farmers are being drawn to it by cash and other special benefits. The tobacco leaves are being dried in courtyards, beside roads, in gardens and elsewhere, spreading the smell of tobacco through the area. People of all ages are living at risk of various illnesses.

Tobacco cultivation starts in the Bengali month of Kartik and is completed by Chaitra-Baishakh. Farmers spend about Tk 8,000 to 12,000 per bigha in all, and get about 7-10 maunds of tobacco, worth about Tk 60,000 to 70,000. They currently sell it in 60 kg bales to company agents.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), tobacco was grown on 30 hectares in Rajbari this year. It was grown on 28 hectares in 2023, 13 hectares in 2022, 20 hectares in 2021 and 30 hectares in 2020. This year the largest areas were in Rajbari Sadar and Goalanda upazilas.

Several tobacco farmers, including Nazimuddin Bepari, Kabir Mondal and Shukur Ali, said: "We have grown tobacco for a long time and haven't had much of a problem. We know tobacco harms health. But we grow it because it is more profitable than other crops. A tobacco company gives cash, fertiliser and other support for cultivation."

Several local residents, including Md Ibrahim, Zahid Hasan and Abdul Kader, said: "Tobacco used to be grown along the riverbank, but this year it has been grown on high land where rice and other crops were grown. You can't walk past because of the smell of tobacco. It is harmful to health, and you can't breathe properly. The government should stop tobacco cultivation and the companies. Where tobacco is grown, the soil loses its fertility."

Tuku Miji, chairman of Mizanpur Union Parishad, said: "Tobacco is grown in the riverside areas of our union. Alongside discouraging tobacco cultivation, we have informed people at various times and in various ways that it harms the body and the land."

Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director of the district DAE, said: "Some tobacco is being grown in the char areas of Rajbari Sadar and Goalanda. Farmers are growing tobacco, tempted by the many benefits. We are discouraging farmers from tobacco and have stopped fertiliser and other support for it. Soil damage is also discussed during training. As there is no scope for legal action, we are explaining the harm to farmers."

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