The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria
Background In recent times, the production of tobacco leaves has shifted from high-income countries to developing countries, especially those in Africa. In these countries, the governments support tobacco farming as a method of poverty alleviation. In addition, the Tobacco Industry (TI) actively pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/The-reality-of-tobacco-farmers-exploitation-in-a-region-in-Nigeria,84202,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1811313574061015040 |
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| author | Eniola Cadmus Tumi Ajayi Tomi Iken Phillip Japkor Akinbode Oluwafemi Akindele Adebiyi |
| author_facet | Eniola Cadmus Tumi Ajayi Tomi Iken Phillip Japkor Akinbode Oluwafemi Akindele Adebiyi |
| author_sort | Eniola Cadmus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
In
recent times, the production of tobacco leaves has shifted from high-income
countries to developing countries, especially those in Africa. In these
countries, the governments support tobacco farming as a method of poverty
alleviation. In addition, the Tobacco Industry (TI) actively promotes the
alleged benefits of tobacco farming to the farmers and country, and these
supposed benefits have been used to obstruct tobacco control policies. There is
limited data regarding effects of tobacco farming from the view point of the growers
themselves. This study set out to document the experience of tobacco farmers
regarding the processes and profit gained through tobacco farming.
Methods
A cross sectional study using qualitative method of
enquiry was carried out. Two agrarian communities with huge acreage ownership
by the British American Tobacco Company Nigeria for tobacco farming were purposively
selected for the study. Key informant interviews were conducted among the
farmers and data obtained were transcribed and analysed though thematic
analysis.
Results
Findings from the study show that although the
tobacco farmers received support from the Industry to grow tobacco, they were
often forced to sell their products with minimal margins of profit to the
tobacco companies since it cannot be sold on open markets in Nigeria.
Furthermore, there is a market monopoly as only one company buys the produce further
reducing their bargaining power. Furthermore,
the labour intensive nature of the tobacco farming process necessitates recruitment
and of their children and other family members leading to hazardous exposure.
Conclusions
This study
provides evidence which refutes claim by the Tobacco Industry about promises of
prosperity to all involved in tobacco cultivation. Interactions with the
farmers, did not indicate that tobacco farmers were wealthier than the
non-tobacco farmers. This information will assist the drive for tobacco control
policies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:57:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7b2b900ab4f4c39aff75dd33ace7edf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:57:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7b2b900ab4f4c39aff75dd33ace7edf2022-12-22T02:49:30ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252018-03-0116110.18332/tid/8420284202The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in NigeriaEniola Cadmus0Tumi Ajayi1Tomi Iken2Phillip Japkor3Akinbode Oluwafemi4Akindele Adebiyi5University of Ibadan, Community Medicine, NigeriaUniversity of Ibadan, Community Medicine, NigeriaUniversity of Ibadan, Community Medicine, NigeriaERA/FoEN, NigeriaERA/FoEN, NigeriaUniversity of Ibadan, Community Medicine, NigeriaBackground In recent times, the production of tobacco leaves has shifted from high-income countries to developing countries, especially those in Africa. In these countries, the governments support tobacco farming as a method of poverty alleviation. In addition, the Tobacco Industry (TI) actively promotes the alleged benefits of tobacco farming to the farmers and country, and these supposed benefits have been used to obstruct tobacco control policies. There is limited data regarding effects of tobacco farming from the view point of the growers themselves. This study set out to document the experience of tobacco farmers regarding the processes and profit gained through tobacco farming. Methods A cross sectional study using qualitative method of enquiry was carried out. Two agrarian communities with huge acreage ownership by the British American Tobacco Company Nigeria for tobacco farming were purposively selected for the study. Key informant interviews were conducted among the farmers and data obtained were transcribed and analysed though thematic analysis. Results Findings from the study show that although the tobacco farmers received support from the Industry to grow tobacco, they were often forced to sell their products with minimal margins of profit to the tobacco companies since it cannot be sold on open markets in Nigeria. Furthermore, there is a market monopoly as only one company buys the produce further reducing their bargaining power. Furthermore, the labour intensive nature of the tobacco farming process necessitates recruitment and of their children and other family members leading to hazardous exposure. Conclusions This study provides evidence which refutes claim by the Tobacco Industry about promises of prosperity to all involved in tobacco cultivation. Interactions with the farmers, did not indicate that tobacco farmers were wealthier than the non-tobacco farmers. This information will assist the drive for tobacco control policies.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/The-reality-of-tobacco-farmers-exploitation-in-a-region-in-Nigeria,84202,0,2.htmlWCTOH |
| spellingShingle | Eniola Cadmus Tumi Ajayi Tomi Iken Phillip Japkor Akinbode Oluwafemi Akindele Adebiyi The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria Tobacco Induced Diseases WCTOH |
| title | The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria |
| title_full | The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria |
| title_short | The reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in Nigeria |
| title_sort | reality of tobacco farmers exploitation in a region in nigeria |
| topic | WCTOH |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/The-reality-of-tobacco-farmers-exploitation-in-a-region-in-Nigeria,84202,0,2.html |
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