ITGA welcomes Comesa’s stance on tobacco ban

Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) decision to oppose the total ban of tobacco production without offering

sustainable alternative crops.
In a statement, ITGA president, Mr Francois Van der Merwe said the stance taken by Comesa at the recent summit in Uganda showed that Comesa recognised tobacco farming as one of the major sources of employment.

“Comesa recognises that tobacco production is also a major source of foreign exchange earnings and an important business base in the region,” he said.
Mr Van de Merwe said the FCTC was attempting to force farmers out of growing tobacco without providing any viable alternatives.

“It is good to know we have the support of Comesa behind us,” he said.
At the summit, Comesa urged WHO member states “to consider the balance between public health, fiscal policy and agriculture realities” when deliberating the FCTC proposals.

It called for “evidence-based assessment of economically sustainable alternative livelihoods to tobacco cultivation in consultation with all impacted stakeholders including growers, tobacco producing countries, merchants and manufacturers”.

The FCTC working group’s lack of consultation with farmers and their associations has been an on-going concern of the ITGA.

“ITGA fully supports Comesa’s decision to uphold and respect tobacco farmers’ rights to be consulted on FCTC measures,” he said Van der Merwe.

“Viable alternative crops to tobacco will never materialise without close consultation with farmers and their communities and it is critical they are involved in any discussions that stand to impact their livelihoods.”

A recent study conducted by award-winning NKC Independent Economists found that in the Comesa states alone more than 17 million people are reliant on the tobacco sector for employment or household income.

It also found that tax revenues for the Common Market generated by the tobacco value chain were valued at US$3,79 billion during 2011 and its exports of tobacco and related products totalled US$1,49 billion in the same year.