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Why Tobacco Cultivation ?

by Rabat Fahmida
***Since tobacco cultivation is a marginal crop, banning its cultivation will not incur a significant loss in the country’s economy.
The harmful effects of smoking are no longer questioned except by the tobacco industry. Smoking increases the Incidence of lung cancer, throat cancer and other cancers, cardiovascular diseases. bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and other diseases and illness. Yet many smokers think that anti-smoking slogans and banne *s are signs of modesty. They pu1. their faces as they see — "No Smoking* or 'Smoking is Injurious to health.'
Tobacco was discovered in the Interest of human beings. Man had to discover diversi fled use of tobacco for economic and financial reasons.
Tobacco Is a necessity, comfort and luxury in a man's life in different perspectives. Use of tobacco attained a cultural dimension tn the national life of many nations. It was In certain cases, representation of artistic attainment. There was a time when science ceaselessly-endeavoured to improve tobacco and use of tobacco. Tobacco did not only fetch money, it was an exchange-instrument in international business. Contemporary technology and capital were massively engaged to develop various machines to process tobacco.
Craftsmen with global fame applied their finer skills and knowledge to create containers for tobacco products. Wc have heard of a snuff box selling for millions of Taka in the auction market An obscure leaf of a tobacco plant traversed from the thatched cottage of a beggar to the majestic palaces of the emperors as an economic commodity. In some places this commodity was sold against a pence, and In some other place it was sold In lieu of a diamond.
Our history runs short of record but tradition is no less eloquent and documentary Our chroniclers would not or did not record the time of Inception of use of tobacco. Even then, we can assert doubtlessly that the use of tobacco in our country is as old as the nation itself. From cultivation to use of tobacco mil lions of people use It differently. Some smoke, some chew and a few inhale.
In the days of cigarettes, the pomp and splendour ol majestic use of tobacco is inconceivable. By all considerations. tobacco was a matter to muster. In order to reach tobacco on to that exalted position. man had to work hard, generations after generations. But now is the time when his tory has been called upon to change direction.
Science has been engaged in discovering various dimensions of health-hazards created by use of tobacco. It will con tinue to do so. The subject of my consideration is economics of tobacco. Man does not involve himself In any act having no economic significance and consequence except a few very personal and secret matters.
Tobacco may be the name of a small plant but In reality it ts a gigantic 'money machine.' At present tobacco is grown annually.
The process of cultivation is finished within 75 to 130 days. The huge number of labour Involved tn the process can be shifted to newer industries.
If we want to eliminate de mand of tobacco, wc have to totally abandon tobacco cultivation.
Even if cultivation of tobacco could be prohibited by law and enforced strictly, it may not be rational In the face of the realities. What has to be done is. adverse economic signal has to be focused about the prospect of tobacco cultivation.
The farmers have to feel that cultivation of tobacco will not remain economic anymore. The way Indigo took its-farewell. tobacco has to be driven out tn the same economic way. The peasants have to be showed alternative economic use of their land during the period tobacco ts planted.
This is not supposed to be a very difficult Job tn Bangladesh. If there is a successful economic use of their lands, the peasants under natural economic principle will cultivate alternative crops. Cultivation of paddy In the Jute lands have already started.
The farm workers, thus, do not pose any problem. There are then the industrial workers. Manufacturing of blri was once prohibited in this county
There was no big national loss. It is possible to create new employments in new industries under planned and phased programme of industrialisation. A new life Is rightly expected to come into play in the overall economic gamut
The point to decide Is how far wc shall go and how long wc shall take to reach the destination. In the wake of our total disliking, the historic golden fibre Is In difficulty. Since tobacco cultivation is a marginal crop, banning its cul -ttvation will Incur an insigntfl cant loss In the country's economy.