Call for end to ‘exploitation’ of farmers

The Ghana-based Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) has joined public health groups the world over to call on the tobacco industry to end its exploitation of tobacco farmers, according to a SpyGhana.com story.

The VALD, which is a non-governmental organization advocating a tobacco-free society has appealed to Ghana’s government to provide support for farmers who want to transit away from raising tobacco.

“Transitioning out of tobacco will not only ensure a better future for tobacco farmers, but will also contribute greatly to public health in Ghana and the world over,” said VALD’s program director, Labram Musah, in a press note sent to the Ghana News Agency.

The press note reportedly stated that the tobacco industry had exploited farmers in Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other countries around the world by encouraging them to cultivate tobacco and then intentionally keeping prices too low to be profitable.

‘These low prices undermine farmer’s bargaining power, causing them to fall into a cycle of debt that perpetuates poverty,’ the note added.

The story is at: http://www.spyghana.com/tobacco-farmers-exploitation-must-stop-vald/