News
Tobacco farmers at butt end of wavering Govt. policy
Several tobacco leaf cultivators say they will continue with their livelihood amid mixed signals from the Government regarding a move to ban the cultivation by 2020.
Somasunderam Tharshan: His family has been doing tobacco farming for generations and moving away from the crop is difficult. Pic by S. Rubathesan
Their decision to continue with the cultivation comes as Cigarette Barns Owners Association
(CBOA) President Jayantha Egodawela claims that the Agricultural Ministry has given little support this year to cultivate alternative crops
In contrast, he says that last year they were given seedlings, fertilizer and event taught the methodology of planting alternative crops such as pepper, potatoes and vegetables. As part of the support programme, farmers were also provided water pumps, sprinkler systems and bank loans.
But this year, he says, officials appeared to be lethargic in continuing with the programme.
Agriculture Ministry’s Agrotech unit secretary Ajantha de Silva says funds have not been allocated for the programme this year.
However, he confirms that the Government would continue with the move to discourage farmers from cultivating tobacco leaf. He says although support programmes that required funding were at a standstill, awareness programmes that did not involve much funding would be conducted as usual. “We are trying to put in a fresh proposal and secure funds,” he says.
In a move to curb the use of tobacco, President Maithiripala Sirisena in 2017 issued a directive, according to which tobacco cultivation would be banned from 2020 and farmers would be given a two-year phasing out period.
A pilot project to get farmers to cultivate pepper instead of tobacco leaf was discontinued as the government was unable to provide seeds to all the farmers.
Somasunderam Tharshan (37), a father of three from Mandaitivu in Jaffna is planning to abandon his tobacco cultivation as the demand for tobacco was waning. He says this year many traders have refused to buy his produce. Earlier traders would come to him and whisk away the produce but not so now. He cultivates around 3000 plants in his 56-perch land and earns around Rs.50,000 a year.
He points out that he is unable to plant any other crop in the land as the area lacks ground water. Tobacco plants need minimum water and care and give a good return in three months, he said.
Mr. Tharshan’s family has been doing tobacco farming for generations and moving away from the crop is difficult. “I do not know what to do. This is my livelihood”.
Sivanandarasa Sivayogaraja (48), a father of four, who has leased an acre of land for farming in Mandaitivu says agricultural officers have been pushing him to give up tobacco farming and instead cultivate potatoes.
He is planning to abandon his plot of land and move to Kilinochchi where the soil is arable and there is plenty of water.
Mr. Sivayogaraja says many farmers in the area have given up cultivating tobacco following the government announcement.
In the Central Province, too, several farmers have given up tobacco cultivation. A farmer at Welamitiyawa in Dambulla says several farmers have abandoned the cultivation because of the impending ban.
Another hurdle they face is that paddy farmers are refusing to supply them with water to irrigate their fields, citing the ban as an excuse. As a result many are abandoning tobacco cultivation and going on to other crops. But they complain that the returns are poor and the crops need plenty of water and care.
However, farmers in Buttala say they will continue to cultivate tobacco crop. It is learnt that the crop harvested during the Maha season is being cured in the barns to be sold.
W.A. Rohan Pushpakumara (35 years) a cultivator from Buttaala said he has been growing tobacco leaves for the past 13 years.
He said since he has not been told to stop he will continue with his cultivation. Pushpakumara cultivates around three acres of land producing upto 6000 kilos a year. He said the trade was lucrative with a kilo fetching Rs.600. Marketing his produce was also easy as CTC officials come to the village and buy the leaves. “They buy any amount at a good price,” he said.
The CTC looks after the farmers with interest free loans to build barns, purchase fertiliser etc., he added.
The CBOA’s Egodawela says the CTC is ready to buy the total quantities produced and more. According to him, tobacco is cultivated in the Matara, Badulla, Anurdhapura, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya, Moneragala, Kandy, Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts.
He says tobacco cultivation in Sri Lanka was started in 1956 by the government. It is now being supported by the CTC.
He says the government should allow the farmers to continue with their cultivation for the international market at least.”This is election time and candidates who come with a manifesto to protect us will get our votes,” he says. The CBOA has 300,000 farmers registered with it.