'Urgent need for alternative livelihoods for tobacco growers'

There is an urgent need to promote alternative livelihoods for the growers and workers of tobacco, tendu leaf and cigar leaf, according to a declaration adopted at WHO's global tobacco control conference attended by representatives from around 180 countries.
About 1,500 delegates along with other observers participated in the six-day COP7 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) held at Greater Noida near here.
Accusing the tobacco industry of trying to mislead by generating a perception that the Convention is against the farmers, a top official of the Convention Secretariat said it was against the tobacco industry and not the agriculturists.

Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, head of the Convention Secretariat of WHO FCTC, said the intention was to help the tobacco growers by reaching out to them.
The Delhi Declaration, which has been submitted to the Convention, noted that "there is an urgent need to promote alternative livelihoods for tobacco growers and workers, tendu leaf growers and cigar leaf growers as a response to the expected gradual reduction in global tobacco consumption and promote regional and international cooperation for reaching this objective".
It further stressed the need for effective implementation to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products and to counter the threats from proliferation of all forms of tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco as well as new and emerging tobacco or nicotine products, which "may encourage its use and addiction".

The participating nations also decided to hold meetings of various departments along with members of the tobacco farmers industry to find other alternatives for them.

"We want to help the tobacco growers. The point is that the tobacco industries are using this farmers at the forefront for their own benefits.The tobacco industry is trying to mislead and generate a perception that the Convention is against the farmers but it is against tobacco industry. We want to help them by reaching out to them," Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva told reporters at the concluding ceremony of the meet.
The COP7 called upon all parties to actively pursue the achievement of SDG target 3, which seeks to ensure health and well-being for all at every stage of life, and strengthen the implementation of the WHO FCTC.

It also request the Convention Secretariat to take lead in coordinating support to the parties to this effect in collaboration with WHO and other inter-governmental organisations.
All the member countries were asked to increase their efforts to prevent interference by the tobacco industry in accordance with Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC through legislative and regulatory measures.
The Declaration also called upon the parties to strengthen national capacity for tobacco taxes in accordance with Article 6 of the WHO FCTC in an effort to reduce consumption of tobacco products and improve revenue collection and domestic resource mobilisation to meet the commitments contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"To continue to promote ratification, acceptance and approval of the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products in order to facilitate its early entry into force," it read.
Additional Health Secretary Arun Panda, who was present on the occasion,said, "The Health Ministry will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Biotechnology, Commerce, representatives of the Tobacco Farmers Association to discuss the alternate livelihoods for tobacco growers, tendu leaf and cigar leaf growers.