Rangpur Correspondent :
Cultivation of Tobacco, a harmful crop is going on unchecked in Rangpur Division posing serious threat to both public health and environment.
Sources said that tobacco farming has increased alarmingly this season in the region, as the farmers are getting attracted again towards its cultivation following lower market price of paddy and lucrative incentives being given by the tobacco companies to boost up its production.
According to sources of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur, tobacco has been cultivated on 22,813 hectares of land in 8 districts under the division during the current season against 16,696 hectares during last season.
Jotis Chandra, a tobacco grower of Fakiran Sardar para at Paglapir union in Rangpur district told The New Nation that he used to cultivate paddy on his land but this season he is cultivating tobacco as the tobacco companies are providing him with necessary inputs and cash incentives.
He said that he cultivated tobacco on one acre of land during the current season by spending Tk about 25,000 and is expecting to earn over Tk 55,000 by selling his produce.
Hossain Miah, another farmer at Hazirhat area under Rangpur sadar upazila said, that he cultivated tobacco on one bigha of land this season with the hope of earning a good profit.
Many farmers of the region have become more interested in tobacco cultivation than other crops as they get financial and logistic support from the tobacco companies, he added.
Deputy Director of DAE Rangpur Feroz Ahmed said that tobacco farming has increased this season though they continued motivational campaign against its cultivation.
He further alleged that some tobacco companies give the farmers money in advance and also purchase the produce directly from them which make the farmers enthusiastic in cultivating it on a large scale, he added.
Cultivation of Tobacco, a harmful crop is going on unchecked in Rangpur Division posing serious threat to both public health and environment.
Sources said that tobacco farming has increased alarmingly this season in the region, as the farmers are getting attracted again towards its cultivation following lower market price of paddy and lucrative incentives being given by the tobacco companies to boost up its production.
According to sources of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur, tobacco has been cultivated on 22,813 hectares of land in 8 districts under the division during the current season against 16,696 hectares during last season.
Jotis Chandra, a tobacco grower of Fakiran Sardar para at Paglapir union in Rangpur district told The New Nation that he used to cultivate paddy on his land but this season he is cultivating tobacco as the tobacco companies are providing him with necessary inputs and cash incentives.
He said that he cultivated tobacco on one acre of land during the current season by spending Tk about 25,000 and is expecting to earn over Tk 55,000 by selling his produce.
Hossain Miah, another farmer at Hazirhat area under Rangpur sadar upazila said, that he cultivated tobacco on one bigha of land this season with the hope of earning a good profit.
Many farmers of the region have become more interested in tobacco cultivation than other crops as they get financial and logistic support from the tobacco companies, he added.
Deputy Director of DAE Rangpur Feroz Ahmed said that tobacco farming has increased this season though they continued motivational campaign against its cultivation.
He further alleged that some tobacco companies give the farmers money in advance and also purchase the produce directly from them which make the farmers enthusiastic in cultivating it on a large scale, he added.
