Tag: International Tobacco Growers Association

ITGA Celebrates 40 Years of Representing Growers

Photo: PMFTC
The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) marked its 40th anniversary this week.
Established in 1984 by growers’ representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Malawi, the U.S. and Zimbabwe, the ITGA provides a unified voice to tobacco growers worldwide and offers a platform to represent their interests.
During the 1990s, ITGA expanded its membership to include many more countries from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, cementing its presence as a global representative of tobacco growers.
ITGA played an active role in international discussions about the tobacco industry, emphasizing the importance of balancing regulatory needs with the livelihood of farmers.
As environmental and economic pressures increased, ITGA launched initiatives promoting sustainable farming practices to help growers adapt to changing conditions and market demands.
The association actively engaged with governments and organizations, advocating for fair treatment of tobacco growers amid global anti-tobacco campaigns such as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that since its entry into force has dramatically influenced the tobacco regulation environment.
Ever since its foundation, ITGA has served as a unique platform to bring supply chain partners together at regional and global level. Today, ITGA gatherings are fundamental in their role to bring farmers, experts, and other stakeholders to discuss pressing issues, share knowledge, and explore innovations in sustainable agriculture.
Recognizing shifts in global demand, ITGA began encouraging research and programs to support crop diversification that could potentially benefit farmers in their search for alternative income sources.In addition, ITGA solidified its partnerships with research institutions and NGOs to provide education on sustainable agricultural methods and diversification.
The association continues to stand as a key representative in policy dialogues, advocating for a balanced approach that considers both public health goals and the economic well-being of growers.
As ITGA celebrates its 40-year milestone, the organization remains committed to championing tobacco growers’ needs, exploring sustainable solutions, and promoting economic security for farming communities worldwide.
“I encourage ITGA Members to act as a unified body and carry on the legacy of these 40 years of history that were fundamental to maintain our independent global association raising tobacco farmers voices,” said ITGA President José Javier Aranda.
November 28, 2024
ITGA Concludes Annual Meeting

Image: ITGA
The Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina (TGANC) hosted this year’s annual general meeting of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), Oct.15–18 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Among other activities, participants visited one of the world’s biggest tobacco processing plants, witnessed a live auction and toured a research farm. ITGA members also re-elected ITGA’s President Jose Javier Aranda for another term.
During the event, leading agronomists shared their insights into global tobacco yields over the past decade. While the U.S., Brazil and several European origins registered increases, the overall picture is one of flat performance or even decline, which goes against trends in other crops like corn, soybeans and cotton.
During the open session conference, delegates had the opportunity to discuss ITGA’s global research in the U.S. context. Moderated by William Snell from the University of Kentucky, a panel comprising local growers revealed that the issues faced by growers worldwide are very similar.
Panelists also discussed the consequences of the U.S. tobacco buyout, which led to the creation of bigger farms and shifted production west but failed to boost yields.

TGANC Executive Vice President Graham Boyd moderated a discussion about the current marketing season, which continues to be characterized by leaf shortages. While some believed that the flue-cured and burley markets will regain equilibrium in 2025 and 2026 respectively, others predicted longer time frames.
Shane MacGuill, Euromonitor International global lead for nicotine and cannabis, presented the latest consumption trends. According to MacGuill, U.S. consumption patterns have been shifting in the context of overall flat nicotine volume evolution. Among the key drivers for the future of consumption, he said, will be a broadening of the nicotine universe and regulatory innovation, including sustainability and cost-of-living concerns.
Ivan Genov, ITGA manager for tobacco industry analysis, examined the key drivers in leading tobacco-sourcing countries. According to him, unfavorable weather patterns in prominent markets such as Brazil, Zimbabwe and the U.S. were a key contributor to decreased total global sales in 2024. The trend was bucked by a few markets, including Malawi, which enjoyed strong sales this year.
The U.S. regulatory perspective was presented by Benjamin Dessart, vice president of external affairs at Universal. Dessart explained the recent U.S. tobacco regulation policy shift and relevant proposed rules, which he said have the potential to impact the entire supply chain.
The global regulatory discussion was moderated by Michiel Reerink, international corporate affairs director and managing director at Alliance One International. Among other topics, Reerink touched on the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which will require companies to closely examine their own value chains.
October 22, 2024
ITGA to Hold AGM in North Carolina

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) will hold is 2024 annual general meeting (AGM) in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, Oct.15-18. The event, which coincides with the organization’s 40^th anniversary, is hosted by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina and brings together growers’ representatives and tobacco sector stakeholders from around the world.
Delegates to the meeting will visit an auction center, observe receiving station delivery, tour a processing plant, visit university and research farms and the North Carolina State Fair.
This year, ITGA’s focus is on farm productivity and tobacco yields. An extensive research effort revealed crucial variations between markets as well as between small scale and commercial growers. This will be the focus of the open day conference.
For more information, visit www.itgaevents.com.

September 3, 2024
ITGA Debates COP at Americas Meeting

Photo: ITGA
Representatives of the leaf tobacco industry discussed global supply and demand, the economic significance of tobacco, and the repercussions of 10^th Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), among other topics, during the International Tobacco Growers Association’s (ITGA) 2024 Americas Regional Meeting on March 18 in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Participants in the gathering were dismayed by the attitude of the Brazilian government delegation during COP10. Brazil has been the world’s leading tobacco exporter since 1993. In 2023, the country shipped 512,000 tons of tobacco, earning $2.73 billion, according to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade. Yet despite the economic significance of tobacco, Brazil’s COP10 representatives pushed hard for more restrictions on the sector during the Panama meeting.
“I ask the government not to ignore this important production chain, considering that Brazil is an example to the world in terms of good social, environmental and production practices,” said ITGA’s President José Javier Aranda in Santa Cruz do Sul.
Marcílio Drescher, president the Brazilian tobacco growers’ association Afubra, urged tobacco stakeholders to unite in the face of opposition. “There is no such thing as an isolated tobacco sector and the union between producers and companies is very important,” he insisted.
Helena Hermany, mayor of Santa Cruz do Sul, observed that the narrative that reaches government representatives in the capital, Brasilia, is different from reality. “The NGOs totally distort what tobacco means for the growers, the municipalities and the environment,” she said.

ITGA market analysts Ivan Genov described the prevailing tobacco trends in key markets. One of the highlights, he noted, is that Tanzania aims to overtake Zimbabwe to become Africa’s largest producer. He also called attention to a small reduction in cigarette production and the simultaneous increase in demand for next-generation devices, along with the discussions around the disposal of such devices.
Antônio da Luz, chief economist of the Farsul System, highlighted the importance of agriculture. “Fifty years ago, we had 67 percent of people living in the countryside to 33 percent in the city,” he said. “Since 2010, the urban population has outnumbered the rural population and the estimate is that, by 2050, we will have 70 percent of people living in cities and only 30 percent producing food in rural areas.” In such an environment, Da Luz noted, increasing agricultural productivity will be of key importance.
Iro Schünke, the president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), unveiled the results of a 2023 study on the socioeconomic conditions of tobacco growers in Southern Brazil, carried out by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. The average per capita family income of tobacco farmers in the Southern Region of Brazil is BRL11,755.30 ($2,344.35), compared with average Brazilian per capita income of BRL1,625, contradicting the narrative pushed by NGOs that tobacco leaves growers in poverty.
April 9, 2024
Diversification in Africa: FCTC No Help

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
While participants in the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are keen for tobacco growers to abandon the golden leaf, farmers around the world say they receive little support in switching to alternative livelihoods.
Interviewed by the International Tobacco Growers’ Association, Ryan Swales, president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA), said he has not witnessed any attempts from the global health body to assist with diversification.
“I do not see any help from the WHO FCTC helping the diversification of tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe,” he was quoted as saying. “We are on our own, and a big proportion of large-scale growers have diversified on their own, with no help from anyone else, be it the tobacco companies or the WHO FCTC. If you ask many growers if they know who the WHO FCTC are, you will be met with a blank stare!”
This sentiment was echoed by ZTA CEO Rodney Ambrose, who noted that for Zimbabwe’s tens of thousands of small-scale farmers, there simply are no viable diversification options. “Our ministry engaged in a study on behalf of WHO FCTC some years back, which clearly concluded that there are no economically viable crops other than tobacco for our small-scale farmers. Tobacco is their livelihood.
“However, we are always willing to further explore diversification options that the WHO FCTC may propose.”
In Malawi, tobacco growers have received support from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World as the country seeks to broaden its economic base.
February 6, 2024
Growers Demand Voice

Photo: ITGA
Stakeholders in the nicotine business gathered in Dar es Salaam from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 for the annual meeting of the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA).
Hosted by the Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture Hussein Bashe, the conference focused on environmental social governance (ESG) practices and the socioeconomic impact of tobacco, among other topics.
ITGA’s President José Javier Aranda urged governments to consider tobacco growers as partners, given the contribution of tobacco as an income generator and employer. He cited the example of Tanzania, where tobacco provides livelihoods to more than 2.5 million people and generates around $180 million annually in export revenue.
The ITGA president also highlighted the lack of alternatives to tobacco production: “Tobacco is still among the main cash crops in most of the countries where it is grown,” he said. “There is no room for crop substitution at this moment and only complementary crops can be considered as a way of transitioning away from tobacco in the long term.”
Participants in the conference also debated the increasing regulatory pressure on the tobacco industry. For example, the EU Supply Chain Due Diligence Directive, which is expected to enter into force in 2024, will require total transparency in the social and environmental sourcing of products imported into the EU. The ITGA delegates agreed that compliance is key, as compliant markets will have better opportunities to position their products and remain stable in the long term.
Speakers encouraged growers to actively pursue ESG initiatives in their communities. Such efforts, they said, will contribute to the long-term viability of the sector.
The forum also reflected on the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which is scheduled to take place Nov. 20-25 in Panama. As the only global tobacco growers association, the ITGA is looking forward to seeing the evolution of FCTC Article 17 (economically viable alternatives to tobacco growing) because the group has yet to see any evidence of viable alternatives to tobacco growing, ITGA CEO Mercedes Vazquez noted.
Vazquez also insisted on the inclusion in the discussions of farmers, who have been denied a voice in the FCTC debates for nearly two decades. She said the COP has yet to respond to ITGA’s request for observer status at the conference.
The Dar es Salaam meeting also took stock of the latest consumption trends. Modest growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America was offset by significant declines in developed markets, leaving total global cigarette volumes largely unchanged. Among emerging products, heated tobacco products continue to make inroads while e-cigarettes face regulatory headwinds, and nicotine pouches struggle to expand beyond their core markets.
In the leaf market, China, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Malawi and India significantly expanded production in 2023, while volumes in Europe and the United States continued to decline, according to ITGA experts.
November 2, 2023
ITGA Calls Attention to Growers’ Viability

Photo: ITGA
During a recent tour of Africa’s leading tobacco growing country’s José Javier Aranda, the president of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), stressed the importance of sustainability and grower viability.
“Sustainability starts by securing viability to growers; without it, the very pillar of the sector is at risk,” he said.
A fifth-generation tobacco grower in Salta, Argentina, Aranda shared examples to improve social and environmental conditions in tobacco growing that had been successfully implemented in his home country. He cited the contributions of Argentina’s Special Tobacco Fund, which has allowed local growers to remain viable and reinvest in social, economic and environmental initiatives.
As part of his tour, Aranda attended TAMA Farmers’ Trust annual general meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, which was opened by Malawi’s minister of agriculture, Dalitso Kawale. During the gathering, Aranda stressed the need for governments and grower bodies to work against the demonization of the sector.
Another key point of discussion was the conference of the parties to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which will take place in Panama in November (COP10). The ITGA has been campaigning to counter the claims raised by WHO about tobacco farming and about the economic viability of alternatives crops.
“WHO FCTC operates against its own rules of procedure and under Article 5.3 is deliberately excluding the tobacco farmers’ voice and other tobacco sector key players from the discussion,” said Aranda. “This is the main reason why Article 17 (economically viable alternatives to tobacco growing) has not seen any evolution.
“Article 17 has not provided any results in the search of viable alternative crops in the great majority of tobacco growing countries. Growers are already planting complementary crops whenever the conditions are provided. We urge the WHO FCTC to apply a pragmatic approach towards this issue. ITGA and its member associations are ready to cooperate.”
In Harare, Zimbabwe, the ITGA attended the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association’s annual general meeting and conducted its 2023 Africa regional meeting, officially opened by Minister of Agriculture Anxious J. Masuka. Representatives of four leading tobacco-growing countries attended these meetings: Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while the public session was joined by key partners and stakeholders in the sector.
During the ITGA Africa regional meeting closed session, growers’ representatives presented reports highlighting the key dynamics in their respective markets. Tobacco growers in Malawi have strengthened their efforts in producing a compliant crop, for example, while in Zimbabwe, the current sustainability focus is on curing fuels, agricultural labor practices and traceability.
Earlier in June, ITGA CEO Mercedes Vázquez participated in several events in Tanzania, hosted by Tobacco Cooperative Joint Enterprise. Among other parties, she met Tanzania’s minister of agriculture, Hussein M. Bashe and the Tanzania Tobacco Board.
July 3, 2023
A Mixed Bag

Image: Taco Tuinstra
Growers continue to struggle with rising production cost, but demand for tobacco remains firm.
By Stefanie Rossel
Ivan Genov
Challenges abound for the global leaf sector, but there are also opportunities for tobacco farmers, Ivan Genov, manager of tobacco industry analysis at the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA), told participants in the organization’s recent regional meeting in Salta, Argentina.
The ITGA recently completed a survey among growers and other stakeholders. “The rising cost of production was consistently put as the primary economic concern in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe as well as the Middle East regions,” Genov told Tobacco Reporter. “This dynamic is accelerating and has been particularly worrying in the last two to three marketing seasons. The situation is made worse by other underlying factors, including inflation, price rises of key commodities and growing international tensions, making even more challenging the navigation in global supply chains. All these factors contribute to bringing up the general costs of living and create a natural obstacle in tobacco production.”
In Brazil, for example, the cost of production increased by more than 30 percent on an annual basis; in Zimbabwe, it was more than 20 percent. In most of the leading tobacco producing and exporting countries, the cost of production has been growing at double-digit figures, according to Genov.
In addition, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted the availability and pricing of fertilizers. “The war in Ukraine, along with the massive humanitarian disaster, is also highly problematic in the wider agricultural aspect,” said Genov. “A lot of African and lower income markets are highly dependent on agrifood commodities imported from Russia and Ukraine; wheat was highlighted by the United Nations in the beginning of the conflict. The war has created a shortage of fertilizers as well as a spike in pricing as alternative production routes have to be exploited—often much farther away. This adds to the rising costs of production.”
Worsening U.S.-China relations, meanwhile, could result in more trade barriers for leaf tobacco and other commodities. Inflation pressures, meanwhile, have added to the general expectation of a prolonged period of crisis. There is consensus that cigarette consumption has peaked and is now declining in line with tobacco in the long term. Novel alternatives such as heated-tobacco products contain less tobacco per stick than traditional cigarettes, whereas e-cigarettes require no tobacco at all. The EU Supply Chain Due Diligence Act will bring about more requirements in each step of the production process.

All tobacco origins suffered from significantly increased cost of production. | Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive
Resilient Farmers
Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities for tobacco growers, the survey showed. Since late 2020, leaf has been in undersupply worldwide—an issue that is openly discussed by leaf merchants and international manufacturers. “Some of them have the lowest uncommitted inventories in their recent histories,” said Genov. “The case around burley is particularly relevant. For example, the 2022 crop in Malawi—one of the key markets for the variety—was very short. As a result, we believe it is natural to expect growth in pricing that goes above the cost of production increases [see “Back to Normal,” Tobacco Reporter, June 2023]. The alternative is to see further drops in the global tobacco growers base as cultivating the crop will become even more challenging. We have to remember that this happens on top of issues with generational continuation and the move away from rural areas by young people.”
Stable producers who are well prepared for the underlying threats will enjoy demand for their products, according to Genov. “A lot of tobacco growers have been in the business for several generations,” he said. “A great number of them have a well-diversified land, stable channels and partners for their inputs and huge experience in planning. In the face of leaf shortage and high demand, this surely means quality production is very likely to be realized. Unfortunately, in some cases, diversification is not as easy. It is not only about time and financing but the opportunities of the market. In certain countries, tobacco is the best bet. Small-scale farmers are often left with the least support; they do not have the capacity and time to safeguard against all threats. This is why support from all stakeholders in the sector is essential. Small-scale farmers must not be treated as suppliers of low-price production only.”
Most tobacco farmers are exceptionally resilient, Genov stated. “They have worked in a regulations-heavy environment for decades. Nevertheless, it is still essential to receive support and real understanding from local and international authorities and to be included in the conversations that decide their futures. In addition, tobacco growers’ needs are often not dissimilar to those farmers caring about other field crops.”
Support Needed
According to Genov, one way to assist growers is through diversification efforts, especially in the markets that are heavily dependent on tobacco. Unfortunately, he said, the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 17, which urges member states to find viable alternatives for tobacco growers, has delivered few tangible results on this front. ITGA has put Article 17 at the center of its efforts in 2023 to ensure that the issue is taken seriously during the Conference of the Parties to the FCTC in Panama later this year. The organization urges stakeholders to remember that the livelihoods of millions of people depend on tobacco growers.
Tobacco growing countries will also need assistance with issues such as deforestation, which has been a big problem, especially in Africa. “Finding and financing alternative fuel sources that are more environmentally sustainable is critical,” said Genov. “There are some projects being run in this area. Last November, ITGA organized an awareness bringing campaign about deforestation in three of the leading tobacco growing regions in Zimbabwe. We are pressing ahead with expanding the project to other regions by the end of the year.”
One of the areas that should be prioritized is water management, according to the results of the ITGA’s survey. “For example, in Brazil, one of the key international leaf markets, there is low water storage capacity,” said Genov. “Water conservation is going to climb on the agenda in the years to come. If we include the urgent social issues that are often faced by tobacco growers, like poverty, lack of opportunity for the youth, child labor and inadequate healthcare, we can see that the sector still needs a lot of attention.”
Increasingly, tobacco growers have to cope with the consequences of climate change, which makes it harder to plan agricultural activities. “This makes services like insurance and the importance of forward planning even more significant,” Genov stressed. While weather variations can always be expected, there were some abnormal events in the last few seasons: “In 2022, Malawi was hit by Cyclones Gombe and Anna while Cyclone Mandous affected the crop in Andhra Pradesh in India. In the Americas, certain origins, like in the Dominican Republic, report changes in the traditional rainy season while in Europe, there were periods of prolonged drought. In Cuba, arguably the most striking example, Hurricane Ian obliterated the crop used to produce premium cigars.”
Cost of Production
In his presentation, Genov also reviewed global leaf production, citing data from Universal Leaf. Driven by increases in the U.S., Brazil and Zimbabwe, flue-cured Virginia (FCV) rebounded slightly, to 1.73 billion kg, in 2021. In 2022, the FCV crop excluding China was again short, down to 1.64 billion kg. Brazil’s season, for instance, finished last year with 60 million kg less than in 2021. For 2023, leading markets are expected to increase production, which could lead to increased supply at the global level, Genov said.
In Zimbabwe, production fell by 3 percent in 2022 to just over 200 million kg but was still higher than expected due to drought and the late rains improving the crop. The cost of production rose faster than tobacco prices, however, and is likely to continue increasing next year. “Farmers’ viability over the last two years has been significantly reduced,” said Genov. “In future, pricing will remain a crucial element in seeing which farmers stick with tobacco and which will move entirely to other crops. It is interesting to note here that Zimbabwe’s government has an ambitious target to stimulate production to 300 million kg by 2025 [see Tobacco Reporter’s special report on the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan in May 2023]. Given the current progress of the market, this seems highly unlikely.”
In the U.S., production cost put severe pressure on growers who are increasingly turning to other commodities. “Labor, energy and fertilizer cost will flag this particularly,” said Genov. “2022 has been said to be the most expensive crop to be grown in U.S. history.” For 2023, U.S. producers expect increasing demand with no relief in cost of production, Genov said, and it appears that China is back on the market.
In China, meanwhile, tobacco production has been growing exponentially. The FCV crop reached an estimated 1.91 billion kg in 2022 and is expected to increase to 2 billion kg this year. Tobacco imports overcame their Covid-related drop of 2020 in 2021, according to Genov, who expects demand to remain strong based on local consumption patterns.
Burley production decreased from 407 million kg in 2021 to 360 million kg in 2022. The crop is anticipated to bounce back to 460 million kg in 2023.
Oriental production dropped from 154 million kg in 2020 to 119 million kg in 2021 and stagnated in 2022 at 117 million kg. Production of dark air-cured slightly increased from 108 million kg in 2021 to 113 million kg one year on. For the two latter crops, there is no estimate for 2023 yet.
Stefanie Rossel is Tobacco Reporter’s editorial contributor. An experienced trade journalist, she combines sharp reporting skills with in-depth knowledge of the tobacco and vapor industries. Prior to joining Tobacco Reporter, Stefanie was editor-in-chief at Tobacco Journal International, where she worked for a decade. Fluent in English, German and French, Stefanie covers tobacco news around the world. She is based in Germany.

July 1, 2023
ITGA Counters Tobaccco Growing Myths

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
As the World Health Organization marks World No Tobacco Day today, the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) is “celebrating” World Understanding Tobacco Farming Day.
On behalf of the organization’s members worldwide, ITGA President José Javier Aranda is calling on the sector to counter some of the claims by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) made during World No Tobacco Day.
“It is time to stand up together and request the support of governments against the demonization of our sector,” said Aranda. “For more than 15 years, tobacco growing and growers have been subjected to incorrect arguments that put tobacco farming as the main enemy to all sustainable development goals.
According to Aranda, the WHO ignores the evidence. “The reality is that no viable alternatives to tobacco growing have been found and the implementation of WHO FCTC Article 17 (economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco growing) has not provided any tangible results,” he said.
“This is due to the exclusion of the main actors in this debate—the tobacco growers. We will never achieve sustainable transition, where growers’ livelihoods are guaranteed, if we don’t look at the issue from all relevant perspectives.”

It is time to stand up together and request the support of governments against the demonization of our sector.
José Javier Aranda, president, ITGA
As part of its campaign, the ITGA is publishing information about the tobacco sector, including its socio-economic impact and importance for local communities.
According to the ITGA, many tobacco growers have already diversified their production. Crop rotation is a standard routine for farmers around the world. However, diversification is not an option for most cases as market realities and the funding required to move away to other economically viable crops are not there.
A much-touted WHO diversification pilot project in Kenya, has no meaningful significance in the global context, as it accounts for only 0,0005 percent of the total tobacco production, according to the ITGA. “To reach pragmatic solutions for most tobacco growers, farmers must be included in the debate,” the group wrote in a statement.
“The ITGA calls on governments to protect tobacco farmers and consider all arguments during meetings when decisions about growers’ future are being made. Governments have to make sure these discussions are inclusive. “If this had been the case in the last 17 years, since the working group for Articles 17 and 18 started, the evolution in the sustainable transition to other crops would be in a much more advanced stage.”
On its website, the ITGA has crafted retorts to common criticisms of the sector. For example, in response to the frequently aired accusation that tobacco growing is bad for the environment, the ITGA points out that tobacco covers only 0.25 percent of the world’s cultivated land. In response to the claim that tobacco growing is bad for growers’ health, it points out that the only health risk unique to tobacco crops is green tobacco sickness—a condition that is easily avoided with proper attire and training.
May 31, 2023
ITGA Confronts Tobacco Growing Critics

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
In the run-up to the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) is calling on the tobacco sector to raise awareness about the reality of tobacco growing to counterbalance the anticipated negative messaging.
“Our sector will once again become subject to unfounded and damaging claims,” the ITGA writes on its website, adding that growers have been unfairly excluded from discussions at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
“By ignoring tobacco growers’ legitimate concerns, the livelihoods of millions of people are put at stake,” the ITGA writes.
On its website, the organization has crafted retorts to common criticisms of the sector. For example, in response to the frequently aired accusation that tobacco growing is bad for the environment, the ITGA points out that tobacco covers only 0.25 percent of the world’s cultivated land. In response to the claim that tobacco growing is bad for growers’ health, it points out that the only health risk unique to tobacco crops is green tobacco sickness—a condition that is easily avoided with proper attire and training.
The ITGA also addresses criticisms about farmer debt and child labor on its website.
May 24, 2023