Hunger fears over tobacco

OVER reliance on tobacco farming in Migori county might
create food shortage, a local NGO has said in a report. A
research by Right Hearts Against Poverty in Kenya, a local
CBO based in Uriri constituency says tobacco cultivation is
to blame for widespread school dropout rates and child
labour.
The research sampled 1,500 farmers in tobacco growing
areas in all eight subcounties in Migori county. It says more
farmers will take up tobacco farming because of the current
bountiful harvest.
Kevin Oketch, a lead researcher said the research was done
within the month of June. "We have established that by the
month of December, tobacco growing areas may face acute
food shortage if the trend isn't reversed," he said. Oketch
was addressing journalists in Migori town yesterday.