Tobacco is hot property for farmers, tobacco products manufacturers and consumers alike. The stakes are high for all concerned, but the government is under pressure from health activists to ban tobacco products. The issue of what can be the alternative for tobacco growers who will have no takers for their product, adding to the farmer distress that has already engulfed the country and inflamed passions across the political divide, is gathering debating speed across the country especially in states that have a large tobacco growing acerage.
Kannada Rajyotsava Awardee and Agricultural Scientist with vast field experience, Vasanthkumar Timkapur opines that there are better crops which can provide richer yields for the farmer in this interview with Newskarnataka.com’s Fakruddin Hussen
Do you think that Central Institute of Technological Institute (CFTRI) researched crops Chia and Quinova crops are more viable than Tobacco?
I think CFTRI does not understand the ground reality. One has to think about the market and demand for these two crops before suggesting that farmers grow it. These crops may be academically viable but not in practice, as it may put farmers income at risk during adaptation period and the lack of a ready market for the crops. In the present circumstances, it is highly impossible that farmers in this part of the world will accept these crops as they don’t have much demand.
Most importantly, no single crop can substitute tobacco. Tobacco is the only rainfall cash crop and fortunately Mysuru district and Madikeri district has such an environment where Tobacco can be grown. There is also misinterpretation that Tobacco growing must be banned by 2020. But the reality is that Tobacco growing must be reduced by 50 percent by then.
If you think these crops cannot be used as substitute which sort of cultivation can help farmers, should the production be halved?
As you know, substituting a crop overnight is highly impossible. Any mono cropping is also bad. The best way for farmers to firstly survive and evolve is multi cropping and vegetables and fruits in their respective seasons will help the farmers. Take for instance, if a farmer has 2 acres of land, let him grow 1 acre of land with Tobacco and another one acre with multi vegetable crops and seasonal crops. With proper scientific adaption, a farmer can generate the same yield in one acre of land which he used to get in two acres of land. So firstly, he will not be at loss. Then he can try vegetable and fruits crops in another one acre which surely has a ready market and gradually he can reduce the tobacco growing. I think this is the best way to adapt to new crops. The cost of production will be less and you will get the same amount of yield.
How well will the land support this cropping pattern in this part of the world?
Let me explain it with an example. A few years ago, Kolar which is known as ‘land of gold’ is also known for its limited fertility. It is known for mining and not cultivation. A few decades back, the farmers there experimented with growing vegetables and fruits which are off and on season. Believe me, in barren lands they created a miracle. The grown goods were sent to Bengaluru and the demand for vegetables and fruits will never die. Multi cropping was a hit then and the demand never saw an end. When vegetables and fruits can be grown in barren lands, why can’t it be grown in land where you have irrigation facility, fertile lands and an agricultural friendly atmosphere? But the sad story is, today Kolar farmers have sold their land to mining people as a huge amount of money was offered and the agriculture spread in Kolar has dropped. But if you go to Belgaum and Bijapur district, even today they grow vegetables and fruits that is fetching them an impressive profit. Unfortunately today farmers are buying crops!
What are the advantages of the growing vegetable and fruits and multi cropping?
Even as the whole country is debating on whether to provide food security according to the food security bill, so that nobody stays hungry, nobody has thought about nutrition security. If a farmer can grow vegetables, firstly he will use it for his family where the nutrition security is fulfilled. However, there is increase of population in urban areas who are consuming vegetables and fruits. So a farmer can hit two targets at the same time. In mono cropping, a farmer will have to sow the field and will have to wait for the yield for long years. But in multi cropping, you will have to work 365 days on the field and you will see returns frequently that will help farmers to develop.
Do you think farmers around here are aware that multi cropping would help them?
They are certainly aware of it. But there are few things that are stopping them from changing their cropping pattern. Firstly, the yield that we are getting from the land is less. This is just because the successive governments and concerned departments have failed to transfer modern technology to farmers. We need a forum to create awareness and to help farmers to adapt to the scientific farming., as with limited knowledge about subsitutable crops, they are not willing to take the risk of adaptation. Authorities have to take the issue up, conduct workshops, join hands on the field to help them to substitute another crop. Another major reason for their unwillingness to shift their cropping patterns is loans. Tobacco growers get impressive loans from banks as compared to other agriculturists. For example, if you have 2 acres of tobacco growing land you would get a loan upto Rs 3 Lakhs, but for the land area that cultivates cereals or pulses, only paltry loans are offered.
