Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a discussion on Tuesday emphasized the need for stopping involvement of tobacco industries in farming as they control the entire process of tobacco farming using the farmers as bonded labours.
“Tobacco farming is harmful for both land and public health. But it is increasing day by day. The industry allures the farmers in many ways. Farmers have no liberty. They just act as bonded labours while the industry controls the whole process of farming,” they said.
The speakers said this at a discussion titled “Aggressive Expansion of Tobacco Cultivation in Bangladesh: Risk and Responsibilities” organized by Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city.
President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP attended the function as the chief guest, while Abul Kalam, MP, Fazilatunnesa Bappy, MP, Nabi Newaz, MP and former research director of BIDS M Asaduzzaman were the special guests.
Editor of Sakaler Khobor Mozammel Manju presided over the function, while ATMA Joint-Convener Nadira Kiron moderated it.
Bangladesh Representative of CTFK (Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids)
Taifur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the government would formulate a policy for the tobacco cultivation by the next year.
He said that he would also try to form a platform comprising 20 to 30 MPs with a view to taking some initiatives to discourage farmers in tobacco cultivation.
Taifur Rahman said that at least 57,000 people die a year for the tobacco use and cultivation. About forty per cent forest is being destroyed by tobacco cultivation in the country.
“Many farmers are not interested in cultivating paddy and winter crops on their land as they often get fair prices of their products because of poor marketing and transport,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, tobacco companies are providing various facilities to farmers so that they feel encouraged to cultivate tobacco.
“Most tobacco farmers earn more profit from their production as they are convinced by the prices tobacco companies offer. Tobacco farming needs a huge amount of fertiliser and poor farmers often receive credit from tobacco companies to buy the fertilizer. The companies also give advance money and agri-inputs like fertiliser and seeds to encourage farmers in tobacco cultivation,” he added.
He said that some farmers, who have ability to cultivate their farmland with their own resources, are also engaged in tobacco farming as it gives them guarantee of sale of their production.
Speakers at a discussion on Tuesday emphasized the need for stopping involvement of tobacco industries in farming as they control the entire process of tobacco farming using the farmers as bonded labours.
“Tobacco farming is harmful for both land and public health. But it is increasing day by day. The industry allures the farmers in many ways. Farmers have no liberty. They just act as bonded labours while the industry controls the whole process of farming,” they said.
The speakers said this at a discussion titled “Aggressive Expansion of Tobacco Cultivation in Bangladesh: Risk and Responsibilities” organized by Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city.
President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP attended the function as the chief guest, while Abul Kalam, MP, Fazilatunnesa Bappy, MP, Nabi Newaz, MP and former research director of BIDS M Asaduzzaman were the special guests.
Editor of Sakaler Khobor Mozammel Manju presided over the function, while ATMA Joint-Convener Nadira Kiron moderated it.
Bangladesh Representative of CTFK (Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids)
Taifur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the government would formulate a policy for the tobacco cultivation by the next year.
He said that he would also try to form a platform comprising 20 to 30 MPs with a view to taking some initiatives to discourage farmers in tobacco cultivation.
Taifur Rahman said that at least 57,000 people die a year for the tobacco use and cultivation. About forty per cent forest is being destroyed by tobacco cultivation in the country.
“Many farmers are not interested in cultivating paddy and winter crops on their land as they often get fair prices of their products because of poor marketing and transport,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, tobacco companies are providing various facilities to farmers so that they feel encouraged to cultivate tobacco.
“Most tobacco farmers earn more profit from their production as they are convinced by the prices tobacco companies offer. Tobacco farming needs a huge amount of fertiliser and poor farmers often receive credit from tobacco companies to buy the fertilizer. The companies also give advance money and agri-inputs like fertiliser and seeds to encourage farmers in tobacco cultivation,” he added.
He said that some farmers, who have ability to cultivate their farmland with their own resources, are also engaged in tobacco farming as it gives them guarantee of sale of their production.
