India became a signatory to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003, whereby it has to reduce tobacco farming by 50 per cent within 10-15 years of signing the pact.
The commerce ministry has urged the Tobacco Board to prepare a road map on shifting the farmers to alternative crops and work out a rehabilitation formula for those whose livelihood depends upon such cultivation.
India has 96,865 registered tobacco cultivators, mostly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Following a spurt in exports tobacco acreage in Karnataka had shot up to about 80,000 hectares, against 75,000 hectares last year.
Higher acreage also prompted the Tobacco Board to issue warning against illegal cultivation.
The Indian government estimates that as much as 40 per cent of India’s health problems are linked to tobacco.
About 25 crore (250 million) Indians use it and an increased rate of smoking among women combined with a surge in the popularity of chewing tobacco are raising particular concern.
This affects the economy as a major chunk of productive and trained manpower is lost.
Image: A volunteer sits by a anti-tobacco placard | Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: An Indian may bag the Economics Nobel this time
Advertisement
