PESHAWAR, Feb 16: The World Health Organisation has started a survey in the tobacco-producing districts to ascertain their income from tobacco and the health hazards associated with the crop.
The survey is being conducted in collaboration with the provincial health department.
“The survey, which is to be completed within a month, is aimed at persuading farmers to sow crops other than tobacco,” said a WHO official. He said that the exercise was aimed to try to reduce the tobacco crop and ultimately lessen the health hazards caused by the use of tobacco.
He said that farmers involved in tobacco cultivation were also faced with health hazards and if they could be persuaded to opt for sowing other crops, it would save them from a host of ailments caused by tobacco.
After the survey’s completion, a proposal would be sent to the government to protect the farmers’ interests, he said, adding that the government was collecting billions of rupees in taxes from tobacco growers and processors.
“On the other hand, millions of people are endangered by diseases like chest and other respiratory ailments like asthma and TB from use of tobacco,” he added. People affected by tobacco use spend billions of rupees on treatment, he added.
According to the National Health Survey of Pakistan, about 54 per cent men and 20 per cent women used tobacco in the country in one form or the other.
It said that the ratio of tobacco consumption was increasing in women in the age group of 45 to 64 years and men from 25 to 44 years of age.
WHO official said that farmers in Mardan, Swabi and Mansehra would be interviewed to ascertain the cost of tobacco cultivation and also determine their income. Data regarding the process of cultivation to its marketing would also be collected.
During the survey, officials said suggestions would be sought from farmers about the prospects of cultivating alternate crops and incentives they might want from the government in exchange for dropping the cultivation of tobacco.
Later, a report would be prepared and recommendation would be sent to the government to extend incentives to farmers to prepare them for stopping growing tobacco.
