PoJK: Weak agricultural support fuels shift from traditional crops to tobacco
Muzaffarabad, July 22
Farmers in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly abandoning traditional crops such as rice and vegetables in favour of tobacco cultivation for higher returns, rising input costs and inadequate support from the agriculture authorities.
According to residents, agricultural patterns have changed significantly over the past few years, with tobacco replacing food crops that once met local consumption needs.
The trend has raised concerns over food security, public health and environmental sustainability.
Saad Hameed, a resident, said that fields which once produced rice, tomatoes and other vegetables are now being converted into tobacco farms because of the higher profits.
"A few years ago, rice, tomatoes and several other crops were widely cultivated here. Today, more and more farmers are switching to tobacco cultivation because it offers greater financial returns," Hameed said.
He warned that the shift was coming at a high social cost.
"Tobacco is harmful to public health and is linked to diseases such as cancer. Yet people are cultivating it for short-term profits. Meanwhile, the production of tomatoes and other vegetables, which fulfilled local needs, has declined sharply. This is also harming the environment," he added.
Residents say the decline in local food production has increased dependence on supplies from outside the region, driving up household expenses.
"Essential items such as fruits and vegetables are now scarcely produced locally. As a result, people have to purchase them from outside, making them vulnerable to rising prices and inflation," Hameed said.
He further alleged that certain areas are being targeted for tobacco cultivation because of tax-related advantages.
"These areas are chosen because tobacco operators seek to save on taxes. For the sake of profits, fertile agricultural land is being diverted away from food crops towards tobacco cultivation, harming both the environment and local agriculture," he said.
Locals also attribute the growing shift towards tobacco cultivation to the rising cost of fertilisers and insufficient technical guidance from the Agriculture Department, making traditional farming less viable for many cultivators.
They say stronger agricultural support and incentives for food crop cultivation are needed to reverse the trend and ensure long-term food security in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
My family is from Kashmir originally, and seeing this news breaks my heart. Traditional rice and vegetable farming is part of our heritage. But I also understand farmers need to make a living. The real problem is lack of government support and price volatility for food crops. If the authorities provided better subsidies, irrigation, and market access, farmers wouldn't be forced to turn to tobacco. This is a governance failure, pure and simple.
Incredible how history repeats itself. Same thing happened in many parts of India in the 1990s when farmers shifted to cash crops like sugarcane and cotton due to better returns, only to face debt cycles. Tobacco is even worse—it destroys health and soil. The PoJK administration must wake up and provide affordable seeds, fertilisers, and guaranteed procurement for food crops. Otherwise, food security will become a distant dream there.
This is deeply concerning but not surprising. The lack of proper agricultural extension services is a chronic issue across South Asia. What's particularly alarming here is the tax-avoidance angle—tobacco operators exploiting weak regulations. The solution isn't just more subsidies; they need a comprehensive policy: better seeds, technical training, MSP for vegetables, and strict anti-tobacco laws. PoJK is a captive market, and the people are suffering because of it. 😔
As someone who studied agricultural economics, I can see the pattern: when you have low returns, high input costs, and no safety net, farmers will switch to whatever gives them a steady income. The health costs of tobacco are monstrous, but these farmers are thinking about feeding their families today. The poJK authorities need to step up with price support for traditional crops and maybe even promote organic farming as a premium alternative.
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