Farmers of Chittagong Hill Tracts are getting interested in tobacco cultivation day by day as they earn more profit from its production.
In many cases, tobacco companies give advance money and agri-inputs, including fertiliser and seeds, to farmers to encourage them in the cultivation, said local sources.
According to Khagrachhari Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), there are around 115,000 acres of cultivable land at eight upazilas in the district. Most of the land is located on the bank of three rivers – Chengi, Feni and Mainee. Of the land, about 3,000 acres of land is now under tobacco cultivation.
But President of Khagrachhari Parivesh Andolon Forum Md Robiul Islam claimed that around 25,000 acres of land had been brought under tobacco cultivation this year.
“We consider tobacco as green poison as it causes serious threat to farmers’ health, Robiul said, adding that cultivation of tobacco also damages fertility of soil as a large quantity of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are used for its cultivation.”
But farmer Abdul Shukkur of Merung under Dighinala upazila brushing asides of the allegation of environment worker Robiul Islam said green tobacco was not health hazardous for farmers and not damages bio-diversity of the area.
Another farmer Rangachan Chakma from Maischhari under Mohalchhari upazila in the district said they were cultivating tobacco as it is more profitable than other crops.
“There is no risk for selling tobacco, as companies come to us and collected tobacco leaves from the fields, but we do not get fair prices when we produce other vegetables,” Rangachan Chakma said.
Nuru Mia, a farmer of Tabalchhari area under Matiranga upazila said they were cultivating tobacco as it was profitable. Moreover, tobacco companies assisted from the beginning to end of its cultivation.
“No one stands besides us if our vegetables get rotten, but tobacco companies stands besides us if tobacco leaves not in expected size, Nuru Mia said.
Deputy Director of Khagrachhari DAE Tarun Kumar Battacharji said companies gave some facilities to attract farmers.
There is a nice communication facility at each upazila, so there is no scope of damage of other crops.
“We are holding awareness build programme for the famers in Khagrachhari, Dighinala, Matiranga, Mohalchhari, Panchhari and Manikchhari upazilas to motivate farmers so that they feel discourage to cultivate tobacco.
When this correspondent contacted local representative of several tobacco companies such as Abul Khair Tobacco Company and British American Tobacco Company, they declined to make any comment over the issue.