The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to roll out plans to help Tobacco farmers in Kwara, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto states transition to nutritious and healthy crops such as maize, cassava and livestock.
Its Chairman, Akinbode Oluwafemi, while speaking through the Programme Manager, Chibuike Nwokorie, in commemoration of the 2023 World No Tobacco Day with theme : “We need food, not Tobacco” said farmers who have invested many years growing Tobacco continue to live in poverty.
He said the commemoration of the event was targeted at bringing to the fore millions of lives lost to Tobacco use and many people around the world managing debilitating ailments.
According to him, in Nigeria, “It is unclear how much land is used for Tobacco farming but this critical data gap makes it difficult to identify and plan interventions for Tobacco farmers.”
He said Tobacco cultivation occurs primarily in Kwara, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto states.
He explained that during Tobacco cultivation and cueing, wet Tobacco leaves produce nicotine and other toxins that are absorbed into the body .
He said, “This causes green Tobacco sickness among farmers adding that Tobacco growers are also known to suffer from respiratory and neurological disorders due to exposure of Tobacco leaves.”
Also, the sub-regional coordinator for West Africa, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Hilda Ochefu, said Nigerians need food and not Tobacco adding that there is hunger in land .
She advised that “instead of our farmers in these states mentioned using the land allocating to the cultivation of crops that can feed their families , the hectare of lands for Tobacco farming should be allocated to feed growing.
“That is our call to farmers but they can’t do it alone , they need government to transition them to alternative livelihoods and it needs goverment commitment.
“We are calling on our new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to rescue of our Tobacco farmers because they are all going through really difficult times.
“Our partner organizations recently visited Tobacco farms in Oyo state, the farmers are washed off because Tobacco companies no longer buy from them and things are difficult for them and their families.”
