ce tobacco over food crops for better profits despite knowing that growing tobacco is very harmful for the land. Thus, food crop production in the district is decreasing dangerously.
Every year Chakaria, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar sadar, and Naikhyangchhari upazilas produce bumper harvest of crops including rice. But farmers are now leaning towards tobacco farming as they get a lot more profit from tobacco companies. Farmers are making three times the profit growing tobacco, which takes three months, than they make producing other crops in a year.
Despite the huge profits, tobacco farming is destroying the fertility of the arable lands as it requires the use of a lot of pesticides and fertilisers. However, a number of attempts to raise awareness among the farmers have failed – evident from the fact that this year tobacco production has more than doubled compared to last year.
Because of the widespread tobacco farming, food crops are becoming scarce in the district with their prices going up every day. Farmers are not getting interested to produce crops such as rice, wheat, lentils, oats as profit in these are too low.
Cox’s Bazar District Commissioner Md Ali Hossain said he heard from the locals that tobacco companies are luring farmers to grow tobacco and would look into the matter. He added that if it is proven to be true, then the administration will take action against the companies.
Assistant Director of the Department of Environment in Cox’s Bazar Shariful Islam said: “The tobacco companies have already been notified to carry out their operations maintaining the environment.
