Farmers in a fix over tobacco crop

Nellore: The Tobacco Board reluctance to announce minimum support price for tobacco before the commencement of crop season has been causing unrest among tobacco growers. Growers are against raising the crop without knowing about the MSP since the expenditure is not in tune with the returns. The crop is lifeline for as many 36,300 farmers having 33,000 barns besides 900 farm labour depending on each barn for 3 months for livelihood in Nellore and Prakasam  districts.

Disheartened by the attitude of the government and Tobacco Board, the growers  volunteered to stop raising the crop and surrender the barn licenses in AP if government pays them Rs 6 to Rs 7 lakhs as compensation for each barn. One of the reasons is that farmers incurred loss of minimum Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh per barn for the year 2016.The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFAA) representative Mr Srikanth  alleged that departments handling the tobacco subject such as commerce, finance and health have no clarity on it.

While health ministry is in favour of ban on tobacco, commerce wing is interested in increasing the exports and similarly finance department is after profits from the trade. Pointing to the advice of the Tobacco Board to opt for two alternative crops in lieu of tobacco, Mr Srikanth said the soi-ls are not suitable for other crops and moreover the water availability is not even sufficient for single crop.

Citing India’s pact with the WHO against tobacco farming, he reminded  the WHO has made it clear that tobacco cultivation should be stopped only after protecting the interests of farmers and labour depending on the crop. Referring to WHO policy and recommendations on economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growers and workers and the need to engage them in the process of policy development in accordance with national laws, he questioned the  rationale behind not inviting them for the COP7 scheduled to be held in India from November 7 to 12.

“The tobacco farming community is worried because WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco  Control  (FCTC) is a forum mostly of Heath and anti-tobacco NGOs, it lacks the knowledge of tobacco growing and does not know that in India millions of farmers and farm workers  depend on tobacco for their livelihood.  Lack of knowledge on this front is bound to negate the just rights of tobacco farmers, workers and adversely affect their livelihood and result in immense damage to the farming community and the Indian economy. It is important that the Tobacco Control Agenda of the WHO FCTC is not allowed to be hijacked by NGOs acting at the behest of vested interests Mr Srikanth demanded while hoping positive reaction from the tobacco board for their  participation.