By Sabir Musa

Arua

West Nile was one of the regions in Uganda with very fertile lands, good for practicing Agriculture to feed the country and her neighbors; South Sudan and DR Congo. This was seen in the good yields of different crops planted in districts across the region.
But slowly, this pride the region once had is fading away as result of tobacco growing and curing process which on the other hand is contributing to deforestation.

A report by the World Health Organization (WHO)on environmental impact of tobacco indicates that farmers who grow tobacco use chemicals which are so harmful to both the environment and their health.
The same report describes tobacco as a threat to global health, killing more than seven million people annually making it the world’s single biggest cause of preventable death.

The use of agrochemicals, deforestation and loss of biodiversity are some of the farmers’ practices drawing attention of stakeholders in West Nile to generate alternatives to tobacco growing, a move to regain fertility of the land.
Methodius Adaku, a farmer from Terego, one of the districts with high tobacco growing rate notes the impact on environment. “Traditionally our farmers are in tobacco growing. But with the effects on population, we don’t want to leave it there and that’s why we are seeking partnership with other companies to diversify so that we can develop alternatives like apiary and growing oil seeds but not limited to tobacco growing because of its impact on environment” he says.

Research conducted by the newsroom indicates that a farmer spends about 4 million shillings per acre of land for preparation, setting nursery bed, transplanting, curing and marketing processes that goes along with use of chemicals, but returns are less than money spend in the process.
It is on this point that the Chairperson of Aroi Cooperative Society, Faida Annet makes an appeal for tobacco farmers to start growing alternative crops that earns more money to change their life. “We want to change some of these activities (tobacco growing) to make sure that farmers also improve their status and cost of living” Faida appeals challenging farmers to “take advantage of the new technology in farming” to improve agricultural practices.

The World Health Organisation designs six stages to explain impact of tobacco on environment; from cultivation to consumer waste. All these stages points out dangers to human and environment, including agrochemicals used by farmers, deforestation for curing, emission of greenhouses gases and toxic residue from tobacco smoke that lingers in the environment.

West Nile Cooperative Union, a regional organization of farmers, comprising of 23 affiliated primary societies is now taking a burden to drive farmers away from tobacco growing to other practices that are environment friendly. The Union’s General Manager, Moses Etukibo is hopeful that this move will be successful as several enterprises are already designed to help the farmers. “Because of the new demands in markets and regional intervention, we are coming up with alternative livelihood to tobacco. So this encompasses a number of activities that’s why we are talking of reviving the union on cornerstone of other enterprises like oil seeds and poultry in line with Parish Development Model (PDM)” he says.

Leaders are equally making effort to ensure an end on tobacco growing in the region due to its negative impact on environment and health, a move backed by Madi-Okollo District LC 5 Chairperson, Ismail Drabe who is hopeful that this will yield fruits. “Tobacco growing is labor intensive to farmers and also destroys our environment because curing process needs wood fuel. We shall be so happy if the farmers move away from growing tobacco, there are so many valuable crops that our people can grow to earn money” the Chairman appeals.

Citing example of some community member in Madi-Okollo District, the Chairperson however advise farmers to choose other environment friendly crops instead of tobacco. “Most of our swamp community in the district have ventured into growing rice, it doing well and supports them while others have chosen production of tomatoes” he reveals.
As the effect of tobacco growing process is felt on environment in West Nile, the final product consumed by smokers is equally taking away lives. “Smoking in public places is so dangerous especially to non-smokers. Smoking in public places exposes rest of the public to dangers associated to smoking” Arua City Health Inspector, Godfrey Apangu explains.

National Forestry Authority Range Manager for West Nile, Milton Nyeko encourages communitiesssss to consider replacing trees that were cut down by farmers to cure tobacco. He says, through government’s initiative, there are different species of trees that needs to be planted.
This story was produced with support from Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC)


COVER PHOTO: A garden of tobacco prepared in Terego District. By Sabir Musa