Alternative crops sought

The government of Bangladesh has drafted a policy aimed, amongst other things, at encouraging tobacco growers to switch to alternatives crops, according to a story in The Daily Star, Dhaka.

The National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), which operates as part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, recently drafted the “Health Improvement Surcharge Management Policy, 2016”, which will be put before the cabinet for approval this month.

The policy’s objective is to plan and initiate tobacco-control programs aimed at helping to prevent tobacco-related non-communicable diseases.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, co-ordinator of the NTCC, said the authorities would be able to provide low-interest loans and new technologies to farmers, and help facilitate marketing of their new produce.