Tobacco cultivation drops sharply in district due to health risks

Davanagere

A recent report from the District Survey Department has revealed that tobacco farming is rapidly declining due to its harmful effects on farmers' health. District Survey Officer GD Raghavan said most farmers were unaware of how tobacco cultivation could harm their health.

He shared that in 2019, the state government had issued a circular urging farmers to move away from tobacco and switch to other crops. In response, the Survey Department and National Tobacco Control officials visited villages to educate farmers. Their efforts were successful, and now, about 90 percent of farmers in the district have stopped growing tobacco.

Raghavan explained that two committees under the National Tobacco Control Programme are active in the district—one led by the Deputy Commissioner and the other by a Vigilance Cell. These teams are working to reduce tobacco use and farming by enforcing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Control Act, 2003 (COTPA). He said, “We are creating awareness about the ill effects of tobacco. There are sections 4, 5, 6A, 6B and 7 under the POCTOBER Act. We will impose fines wherever these acts are violated. If the fine is not paid, we will file an FIR.”

He added that the government's main goal is to identify areas where tobacco is grown and inform farmers about the risks during cultivation and processing. The ultimate aim is to protect farmers’ health by encouraging alternative crops.

This move has already resulted in a significant reduction in tobacco farming, with only a few farmers still continuing the crop.