Farmers in Bangladesh’s Manikganj district are increasingly turning to tobacco cultivation in search of higher profits, even as the shift displaces food crops and raises concerns about environmental damage and health risks.
In the current growing season, tobacco has been cultivated on about 355 hectares of land in the district, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.Officials say the expansion has taken place mainly in Manikganj Sadar, Ghior and Saturia upazilas.
Although the cultivated area is slightly lower than last year’s 360 hectares, agricultural officials say the underlying concern is that land once used for food crops is being converted to tobacco farming.Rice, wheat, maize and pulses were previously common across parts of the district where tobacco is now grown.
A visit to Ashapur village in Ghior upazila shows large stretches of tobacco fields where food crops had been cultivated only a few years ago.Farmers say economic pressures and uncertain returns from traditional crops have pushed them toward tobacco.Abul Kashem, a farmer from Ashapur village, said the cost of cultivating maize is relatively high while the returns are uncertain.
“Tobacco can be planted even towards the end of the month of Agrahayan, and after expenses there is a profit of Tk20,000 to Tk30,000 per bigha,” he said.He added that seasonal waterlogging during the monsoon often disrupts the timely planting of other crops, making tobacco cultivation a more reliable option in some areas.
Another farmer in the same region, Salam Madbor, said he had cultivated tobacco on seven bighas of land this season.“Earlier I grew mashkalai, khesari and wheat,” he said.
“But because tobacco is more profitable, I shifted to tobacco.”Farmers acknowledge the crop carries risks but say the financial incentive remains strong.Mohammad Faruk Mia said he cultivated tobacco on nine bighas of land and spent roughly Tk3,00,000 on production.He expects the harvest to sell for around Tk7,00,000.
“I know tobacco is harmful, but the profit is higher,” he said.The growing presence of tobacco fields has also drawn attention to the health risks faced by workers involved in cultivation and processing.Field labourers often handle tobacco leaves directly, sometimes without protective equipment.
A female agricultural worker who asked not to be named said physical discomfort is common when handling the leaves.“Handling tobacco leaves with bare hands often causes dizziness and nausea,” she said.
Agricultural officials say tobacco cultivation can have long-term consequences beyond individual farms.Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director Shahjahan Siraj warned that the crop damages soil quality and exposes farmers and labourers to health hazards.“Tobacco cultivation is extremely harmful,” he said.
“It reduces soil fertility, pollutes the environment and exposes farmers to health risks.”He added that chemicals released from tobacco plants and their processing can enter the body through breathing.
“Tobacco odour and chemical substances entering the body through breathing can increase the risk of cancer, and women and children are also vulnerable,” he said.
Officials say efforts are under way to discourage farmers from relying on tobacco cultivation.Agricultural extension workers are promoting alternative crops that can generate higher incomes without the associated health and environmental risks.
Farmers are being encouraged to grow crops such as sugarcane, onion and carrot as alternatives.Officials say awareness campaigns and training sessions are also being organised to explain the risks associated with tobacco farming.
Local agricultural offices have been holding courtyard meetings with farmers and providing guidance on switching to other crops.Despite those efforts, the profitability of tobacco continues to attract growers in parts of the district.
Agricultural officials say the shift presents a broader challenge for the region’s agricultural planning.While tobacco may offer short-term income, the longer-term effects on food production, soil health and public health remain a concern.
Officials warn that continued expansion of tobacco cultivation could eventually reduce the land available for food crops.For now, the balance between economic gain and agricultural sustainability remains at the centre of the debate in Manikganj’s farming communities.
