Transforming tobacco farming in Sri Lanka:a value chain analysis
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Tobacco cultivation was first introduced to Sri Lanka
by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Since then,
significant efforts have been made to increase
tobacco cultivation in the country. In 1990,
approximately 0.47% of agricultural land,
equivalent to 8,920 hectares (Ha), was under
tobacco cultivation. However, the stimulus policy
interventions granted to tobacco cultivation
dropped substantially since the 1990s with the
global drive against tobacco. The widespread belief
is that supporting a shift from tobacco to alternative
crops is essential due to its negative consequences.
Tobacco cultivation has been identified as a social
stigma because of the long-term impacts on the
environment and livelihoods, which appear to
exceed the short-term benefits such as income
generation and employment creation. Further, a
growing body of literature highlights the global
negative consequences of tobacco cultivation,
including high labour requirements for tobacco
cultivation, environmental degradation, and health
risks associated with leaf harvesting and leafcuring