Lok Sabha Question No. 3272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Adverse effects of Tobacco Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3272

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  MARCH, 2023

## ADVERSE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO FARMING

3272.    DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री be pleased to state;

- (a) the details of cultivated area of tobacco crop along with its annual production in the country at present;
- (b) the details of major tobacco producing States in the country;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that production related health hazards from tobacco  are  a  matter  of  serious  concern  in  the  country  and  millions  of  tobacco farmers, tobacco farm-workers and bidi workers are ignorant about adverse health consequences they face;
- (d) whether  any  studies  have  been  carried  out  regarding  alternative  crops  to tobacco, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government is proposing to have alternate lucrative crop proposal to help shift away from tobacco farming, if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by which it is likely to be proposed; and
- (f)   whether the Government is aware that there is an urgent need for separate interministerial team to study and create policy to reduce tobacco production in next ten years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b)      The area and production of tobacco, as per latest year for which data is  available  i.e.  2020-21,  is  estimated  at  357.16  thousand  hectares  and  755.25

thousand tonnes, respectively. The major tobacco producing states in the country are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Bihar.

- (c) As per Report on Tobacco Control in India, 2004, tobacco growing in the field or in an uncured state is called green tobacco. This is toxic when in prolonged direct contact with the skin. Workers engaged in tobacco cultivation suffer from an occupational  illness  known  as  green  tobacco  sickness  (GTS).  Further,  as  per Monograph on Bidi Smoking and Public Health, 2008, Bidi rollers handle tobacco flakes  and  inhale  tobacco  dust  and  volatile  components  of  tobacco  in  their  work environment (often their homes) and are at risk for genotoxic hazards.
- (d) The  ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), has carried out studies using various combinations of mono-cropping and inter-cropping patterns on different  soil  types.  Accordingly,  the  alternative  crops  /  cropping  system  options identified for various states are given below:
- (e) and (f)       The  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  had been implementing Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), as ongoing sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2015-16 onwards to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternative crops / cropping systems in tobacco growing states.      An  amount  of  Rs.  10  crore  for  CDP  for  replacing  tobacco  farming  with alternate  crops/cropping  system)  has  been  earmarked  for  implementation  of  the programme  during  2023-24.  CDP  has  been  merged  with  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Cafeteria Scheme from 2022-23.

| State          | Crops / Cropping Systems Identified                                             |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu     | 1.Annual moringa + Chilli 2.Annual moringa + Onion 3.Maize - Sunflower          |
| West Bengal    | Potato, Maize, Wheat and Mustard                                                |
| Karnataka      | 1.Sugarcane (irrigated conditions) 2.Soybean - Sorghum 3.Groundnut - Sorghum    |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1.Maize - Sunflower 2.Maize - Blackgram 3.Maize - Chickpea                      |
| Gujarat        | 1. Castor - Pearlmillet 2. Cotton - Groundnut 3. Pearlmillet -Rajma-Pearlmillet |

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