Golden leaf barren harvest

By Dann Okoth

Tobacco cultivation poses grave threat to public health and the environment in Southern Nyanza.

As tobacco replaces food crops in many farms, the heavy cost paid by communities is becoming more apparent. "For meagre returns of Sh70, 000 per harvest, tobacco farmers are paying a heavier price in poisoned soils and food shortages, which have transformed them into perpetual beggars," says Mr Ronald Ojwaya, a tobacco farmer.

With contracted farmers in Uriri, Migori and Rongo divisions increasing tobacco acreage, the spread of the crop is making it difficult for locals to grow cassava and potatoes as they are susceptible to the mosaic diseases, common in tobacco. The farmers sell their harvests to local cigarette manufacturers.

Maize yields in the area fell from ten to six bags per acre in 1999, to three to five bags last year, a 45 per cent drop, amid massive crop failure due to soil degradation.

Aggravates depletion

The high demand for land for tobacco cultivation and woodfuel to cure the produce aggravates depletion of forests and reserves threatening the environment and ecology, environmentalists say.

It emerged that the system used in most farms to process tobacco is wasteful with farmers burning one tonne of wood to cure an acre of tobacco crop. With thousands of hectares being harvested every year, huge swathes of forestland and water catchments are being lost.

Even as the debate to protect water towers rages, with Mau complex being given priority, a worrying trend is emerging across the country where economic activities are increasingly contributing to environmental degradation.

But Ms Wangare Kihara, acting public relations manager at National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), says an environmental impact assessment was not done when the industry was introduced in the area in late 1960s. "Subsequent annual environmental audits have not been done," she says.

Kenya is one of the leading producers of tobacco in Africa, growing more than 4,000 hectares. Tobacco farming contributes about Sh7.6 billion to the national economy. In 2007, Kenyans smoked seven billion cigarettes, costing cost Sh21 billion. According to the Public Heath ministry statistics, the Kenya Revenue Authority received Sh4.7 billion as tax from cigarette manufacturers and Kenyans spent Sh18 billion in the treatment of tobacco-related illnesses during the same period.

But the impact of the industry at the farm level is more far-reaching and costly than previously thought.

The subsequent massive environmental degradation has led to the drying up of four rivers in South Nyanza in the last decade, triggering a scramble for scarce water resources. The rivers in West, South and North Uriri, include Nyagongo, Oyani, Kagutu and Duya that drain into Lake Victoria. Only Osogo River survives but it has been reduced to a trickle.

Moreover, the chemicals — Orthene, Dithane and Furadan — used to fumigate tobacco find their way into the river via surface runoff and are suspected to be behind sporadic outbreak of water borne diseases and respiratory infections among the residents and animal deaths.

Itchy skin

Mr Alfred Okumu, a farmer since 1979, suffers bouts of itchy skin and rashes every time he handles chemicals.

Children, who accompany their parents to the fields or work as child labourers are at greater risk from the chemicals because their organs are not fully developed.

A clinical officer at Osogo health centre in West Kanyamkago says there has been a steady rise in the number of residents complaining of chest problems in the last 10 years.

"Although cases of tuberculosis are common due to high prevalence of HIV, a majority of cases recorded recently can be directly linked to the industry, says the officer who is not named because she is not authorised to speak on behalf of the centre.

The residents accuse British American Tobacco (BAT) Company for failing to take responsibility for protecting the farmers and the environment, a charge dismissed by the company. "When they introduced the industry in late 1960s the companies provided water for irrigation, tree seedlings and protective gear for farmers but they stopped," charges Mr Martin Opollo, a tobacco farmer in Migori.

BAT Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for East Africa Juliet Adell-Owino says the company works with contracted farmers to conserve the environment. "Between 2006 and last year, BAT distributed 5,731 protective kits to contracted farmers, including overall spraying suit, waterproof apron, cap, hand gloves and mask." She says the company began a reforestation programme in 1976, and advises farmers on proper farming practices including, protection of water sources. "The farmers are a required to divide their farms to accommodate tobacco, food crops, domestic animals and trees."

She says that they are restricted from doing more by the Tobacco Control Act 2007. Maurice Odhiambo Makoloo of the Institute for Law and Environment Governance say the Act failed to address the impact of tobacco farming on the environment.

 

 

Read all about: National Environmental Management Authority Nema British American Tobacco BAT Tobacco Control Act

 

 

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