Farmers Urge Government To Reject Anti Tobacco Framework

Sleman, Yogyakarta, April 22 (Antara) - Yogyakarta`s Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association, APTI, urged the government to reject the World Health Organization`s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as it threaten farmers` livelihood. "The tobacco farmers are refusing the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as it forces them to replace tobacco with other crops," stated the association chairman Sunaryo, here on Tuesday. Sunaryo stated that tobacco is an agricultural commodity that has been a hereditary cultivation in Indonesia and has a high economic value for farmers. "The government has not been able to provide an effective economic solution if the convention is applied," Sunaryo pointed out. If the convention is ratified, then the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people who rely on tobacco for income in Yogyakarta will be threatened, Sunaryo added. Previously, the Indonesian Industry Minister MS Hidayat mentioned that the decision to ratify the tobacco convention is entirely in the president`s hands. The minister also reminded about the ratification impact that hits the tobacco industry sector, which involves around six million workers. Based on the association`s report, there are about 3 thousand hectares of tobacco plantation in Yogyakarta that are entering the growing season shortly with the potential production reaching 210 tons.