Governments should accelerate the implementation of Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines that outline how governments can support farmers by offering technical advice on agriculture to farmers, linking them to necessary supplies and services to support their agricultural production, providing financial support to increase production of healthy food, and divesting away from tobacco and towards alternative crops.

• Seek political support for programmes to support farmers to shift to alternative livelihoods.
• Initial subsidies of supplies (quality seeds, fertilizers or farm equipment) to incentivize famers to make the shift until they have the financial means to sustain it on their own, especially given that supplies are a key factor in farmers’ decision to enter into contract with tobacco leaf buying companies.
• Extension services in the form of training and technical advice on agriculture, as well as support for farmers to access the necessary supplies and services for agricultural production, thereby increasing income.
• Programmes to better connect farmers to buyers of healthy, resilient, local and sustainable crops, so that they can be assured a viable market when moving away from tobacco.
• Support the development of farmers’ cooperatives to help in creating a robust information exchange and knowledge transfer mechanism and mitigate risk for shifting to non-tobacco crops.
• Support diversification strategies that are demand driven and pursue policies based on market dynamics.
• Hold the tobacco industry accountable for the risks posed to the environment and the health effects of tobacco cultivation and manufacturing.
• Working with government departments of public health and local government officials to sensitize farmers to the benefits of shifting away from tobacco and what alternatives are available.
• Develop community-based champions to lead the shift.

Read more on country practices in the implementation of Article 17 here.

Governments should recognize the additional burden placed on low- and middle-income countries to grow tobacco for consumption in high-income countries. High income countries that import tobacco need to incorporate tobacco control, including for alternative livelihoods to tobacco, as part of their development cooperation strategies. They must support alternative livelihood to tobacco growing initiatives which align with other commitments to support the health, environment and economies of low- and middle-income countries and least developed countries.

Groups should develop and share global and regional best practices, as well as educational programmes and information campaigns backed by data and evidence to prevent any attempt of the tobacco industry to misinform farmers and to help promote viable options available to tobacco growers and workers to shift to sustainable alternative livelihoods. They can also generate awareness amongst farmers to understand the negative health, environmental, social and economic effects associated with tobacco growing. 

For example, various initiatives under the Digital India Programme by the Government such as “Digital Village”,”Common Service Centres”, “e-Health”, e-education” etc. can be used for education, awareness and advocacy for tobacco farmers.

Advocates are encouraged to call out the government for supporting tobacco production in low- and middle-income/least developed countries, especially those that are facing food insecurity and contributing to global food crisis, and for not walking the talk on tobacco control including alternative livelihoods as part of development cooperation.

Civil society organizations can expose industry efforts to impede efforts to support tobacco farmers to shift to alternative livelihoods as well as their efforts to greenwash their tactics.

Microfinance institutions can ensure that rural credit programmes benefit tobacco growers who are looking to shift so they can be supported to purchase inputs needed to grow alternative crops.

UN Agencies should work together to address SDG Targets 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 (improve food security and nutrition), SDG Target 3a (implementation of WHO FCTC), SDG Target 13 (combat climate change) and SDG Target 17 (strengthen partnership for sustainable development). This can be achieved by establishing enabling crop production and marketing ecosystems to support farmers to shift from tobacco to alternative crops.

Private sector market players can help shape the market for sustainable alternative crops by incentivizing farmers who shift by providing support along the value chain, including on inputs, post-harvest handling, aggregation and offtake.