World Tobacco Day: We Need Food, Not Tobacco

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Highlights:

• World No Tobacco Day serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use
• The theme of "We Need Food, Not Tobacco" highlights the importance of creating awareness among tobacco farmers about alternative crop production
• The campaign aims to expose the negative impact of tobacco farming on farmers' health, the environment, and the well-being of their families

World No Tobacco Day is a global observance organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by public health champions worldwide. Each year on May 31, this day highlights the detrimental effects of tobacco use and advocates for actions to reduce tobacco consumption globally (1^✔).

Combating Tobacco's Grip by Choosing Life over Smoke Rings

It is your favorite film and your favorite character is in action and all of a sudden, he pulls out a cigarette and nonchalantly blows smoke rings from it. This brings in the thought that these tobacco sticks are a hallmark of glamour and grit.

Such scenes advertise cigarettes to be irresistible but in reality, Cigarettes are deadly not just for you, but even for the environment.

Theme for World No Tobacco Day is "We Need Food, Not Tobacco"

The theme for this year's World No Tobacco Day is "We Need Food, Not Tobacco," focusing on creating awareness among tobacco farmers about alternative crop production and urging them to cultivate sustainable and nutritious crops instead.

‘From 'smoke rings' to 'crop kings' it is time to transform the tobacco fields into cultivation land for a sustainable future #WorldNoTobaccoDay’

Additionally, the campaign aims to expose the tobacco industry's attempts to hinder initiatives aimed at replacing tobacco farming with sustainable crops, which worsen the global food crisis.

Nourishing Lives, Not Tobacco: Promoting Sustainable Agriculture

Tobacco cultivation and production significantly contribute to food insecurity. Factors such as conflicts, wars, weather shocks, and the social and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate the food crisis. Structural factors, including crop selection, also play a role, and the impact of tobacco production highlights its contribution to increased food insecurity (2^✔):

• Each year, approximately 3.5 million hectares of land worldwide are dedicated to tobacco cultivation, contributing to the deforestation of around 200,000 hectares annually
• Tobacco farming consumes substantial resources and relies heavily on herbicides and fertilizers, leading to soil degradation
• Due to tobacco's depletion of soil fertility, land previously used for tobacco cultivation becomes less suitable for growing other crops, including food

Compared to other farming operations like maize cultivation and livestock grazing, tobacco planting has a significantly greater damaging impact on ecosystems, primarily due to its higher susceptibility to desertification.

Moreover, the financial gains from tobacco as a cash crop often fail to offset the harm it causes to sustainable crop cultivation in low- and middle-income nations. Consequently, there is an urgent need to implement regulatory measures that reduce tobacco cultivation and support farmers in transitioning to the production of other food crops.

A Need to Reduce Tobacco Cultivation

Consequently, there is an urgent need to implement regulatory measures that reduce tobacco cultivation and support farmers in transitioning to the production of other food crops.

Despite claims by the tobacco industry to champion the livelihoods of tobacco growers, the reality is far from favorable. The excessive use of insecticides and harmful chemicals during tobacco farming negatively affects the health of farmers and their families.

Unfair contractual arrangements with tobacco companies further impoverish farmers, while the involvement of child labor in tobacco farming violates the rights of children, depriving them of education.

Tobacco and Hunger: Exposing the Hidden Cost of Smoking

Notably, nine out of the top ten tobacco-producing countries have low or middle incomes, with four classified as low-income food-deficit nations.

To address these challenges, the 2023 World No Tobacco Day campaign urges lawmakers and policymakers to strengthen legislation, develop effective strategies and programs, and create market conditions that facilitate the transition of tobacco farmers to the cultivation of food crops.

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides valuable guidance, including specific provisions in Article 17 that promote profitable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers, and consumers. Additionally, Article 18 emphasizes the importance of enhancing environmental and public health protection.

By implementing these measures and improving the execution of existing provisions, countries can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while supporting the well-being and livelihoods of tobacco farmers and their families.

Say No to Tobacco to Say Yes to Life

World No Tobacco Day serves as a platform to raise awareness, mobilize action, and advocate for policies that reduce tobacco consumption and promote the cultivation of food crops, fostering a healthier and more sustainable future. Break the smoky spell this World No Tobacco Day and promote a longer and healthier life.

References:

1. World No Tobacco Day 2023: We need food, not tobacco - (https:www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2023/05/31/default-calendar/world-no-tobacco-day-2023--we-need-food--not-tobacco)
2. The impact of food security disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic on tribal people in India - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8552562/)

Source: Medindia

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