Tobacco farming shoots up alarmingly in Lalmonirhat

Tobacco farming is growing to be increasing alarmingly in the Lalmonirhat district, as increased tabacco farming has become a threat to paddy cultivation.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, at least 50 thousand hectares of land have been prepared by farmers this year for cultivating tobacco in the district, while only 25 thousand hectares were given to tobacco farming last year.

Mahatb Hossain, a 70-year old farmer in Riktikir Hat village under Sadar upazila never cultivated tobacco in the past, but hopes to cultivate it on his three acres of land this year.

Like Mahatab, many farmers started cultivating tobacco on their croplands.

About two thousand farmers in the district enlisted their names as tobacco growers for the first time this year.

It has been increasing alarmingly in the region as tobacco companies encourage the farmers door-to-door.

Farmers in different villages said they were highly interested in cultivating tobacco instead of other crops; especially paddy, as it brought windfall profit for them.

They get seeds, fertiliser and technical support from tobacco companies.

They never face marketing problems, as the companies purchase the products.

Farmer Dhirendra Nath Barmon of Kashipur village said, “I have prepared three hectares of land for tobacco cultivation this year where these lands were cultivated for paddy last year.”

Farm labourers Ali Azgor, Soleman Ali, Mantez Ali, Narayan Chandra and Tipu Miah of Sarpukur village under Aditmari upazila said about double of the land used last year had been taken under the cultivation.

Atoar Rahman, a tobacco grower for the last twenty years in Saptibari village under Aditmari upazila, said many farmers had started cultivating tobacco with the hope of windfall profit.

“We, the tobacco growers, always get input and technical supports from the tobacco companies,” he said.

“We get interest free loan from the company in our crisis periods,” said tobacco grower Nazmul Islam.

Farmer Hasen Ali of Karnapur village in Sadar upazila said, “Agriculture officials never come to build up farmers’ awareness against tobacco cultivation and maximum farmers are still unaware of its harmfulness.”

However, DAE Deputy Director AED Abdul Mazid said, “Agriculture officials conduct campaigns to build up awareness among the farmers against tobacco cultivation.”

Source: dhakatribune,9 january 2015