Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Tobacco Farming in Bangladesh

Abstract

Tobacco farming is relatively economically profitable compared to other field crops but has many negative environmental impacts. The
study was conducted to compare the socioeconomic conditions of tobacco farmers (TF) and non-tobacco farmers (NTF) and explore the
environmental impacts of tobacco farming. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. The average monthly household
income of TF (Tk18052 ± 1552) was significantly higher than NTF (Tk15980 ± 2235), which made TF more empowered than NTF in terms
of housing conditions, weekly fish/meat consumption, and Eid/festival expenditure. Although there were no significant differences
between the two groups on credit borrowing, residential ownership, television and freeze ownership, cellphone and internet use, drinking
water sources, and type of latrine used. In 2021, total GHG emissions from tobacco farming in Bangladesh (Global warming potential
for a 100-year time horizon) (710664 ± 19414) tCO2e, which was 0.26% of total national annual emissions. That is, about (7.7 ± 0.21)
kg of CO2e was emitted to produce one kg of tobacco leaves in Bangladesh. Disruption of family peace and happiness, increase in fire
incidence, and increase in nicotine addiction among the youth and adolescents of tobacco farm families were the direst social problems
caused by tobacco cultivation. Increased perspiration, weakness and fatigue, and headache were the most common symptoms of GTS
effects. The prevalence of GTS effects largely depended on the nutritional status, age, and gender of the farmers. Although tobacco
cultivation made TF relatively safer in socioeconomic conditions compared to NTF, it caused health damage to the farmers as well as
degradation of the physical, biological, social, and cultural environment. Governments should develop strategies to improve farmers’
livelihoods or switch to more profitable cash crops.