Rising tobacco cultivation must stop in Kushtia

Dear Sir,

Tobacco cultivation in Kushtia district is rising steadily due to the incentives and influence of tobacco companies. Farmers who once grew rice, pulses, vegetables and other essential food crops are now shifting to tobacco farming in pursuit of quick financial returns. This shift is reducing food production and increasing concerns about long-term food security in the region.

Tobacco farming causes serious environmental damage. The crop requires heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which degrade soil quality and pollute nearby water sources. Rivers, canals and wetlands in and around Kushtia are being affected, threatening local ecosystems and agricultural sustainability.

But tobacco companies continue to promote tobacco farming through attractive incentives. Therefore, authorities must take effective steps to reduce tobacco cultivation and encourage safer, food-based alternative crops to protect public health and food security.