This followed losses incurred by the majority of rural growers of the golden leaf during the 2010-2011 season.
“Small-scale tobacco growing has proved a cash cow for the government at the expense of individual farmers. Yes, government earned foreign currency, but farmers’ earnings were negative. Such farmers are advised to revert to traditional crops – especially cash crops like vegetables,” said a headman at a recent village development meeting at Dhirihori Business Centre.
“Instead of improving the welfare of farmers, tobacco growing has resulted in destruction of the environment as farmers indiscriminately cut down trees for curing,” he added.
Post published in: Agriculture