Farmers in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat are gearing up to expand tobacco cultivation this year following the high prices they received last season. Seven domestic and foreign tobacco companies are actively supporting farmers by providing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and interest-free loans. However, agricultural experts caution that the expansion of this harmful crop is displacing essential food crops like winter vegetables, mustard, wheat, and paddy, posing risks to soil fertility, the environment, and public health.
Despite the concerns raised, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has not yet taken effective steps to regulate this growth. Mokbul Hossain, a 55-year-old farmer from Rangpur, mentioned that compared to the previous year, there are plans to cultivate tobacco on a larger scale. In Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, farmer Gajendra Nath Sen, 58, shared that after a successful yield last year, he has doubled his tobacco cultivation area for this season.
Another farmer, Bishnu Chandra Sen, recognized the negative impacts of tobacco but emphasized the financial incentives provided by companies as a driving factor for continued production. In Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila, farmer Saidul Islam observed a noticeable rise in tobacco growers at the expense of other crops.
According to DAE officials, tobacco was cultivated on 19,500 hectares in the two districts last year, with concerns that the actual area may be higher. Khorshed Alam from the Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) highlighted the need for monitoring to prevent unchecked expansion of tobacco cultivation.
Efforts to reach out to major tobacco companies for comments were unsuccessful, as they cited confidentiality policies. Omor Faruk, an agriculture officer, expressed concerns over the potential increase in tobacco cultivation this year and the shift away from essential crops due to company influence. Sirajul Islam, an additional director at the Rangpur Regional DAE, mentioned ongoing awareness initiatives to mitigate the impact of tobacco cultivation on fertile land and human health.
He stressed the importance of regulations to protect the environment and promote food security. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers in tobacco farming was also highlighted as detrimental to soil health and human well-being.