Anti-smoking campaigns must also reach farmers and educate them about the negative effects of crop management and encourage them to switch to alternative crops. This is all the more important as domestic and international demand for tobacco is rapidly declining. This idea has been reinforced by a recent report by a parliamentary committee on environment and forestry, which recommended the promotion of alternative livelihoods for the benefit of farmers, the environment and society. The same applies to all manufacturers who manufacture by-products from tobacco. Advertising via most mass media is prohibited. There are certain restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and promotion. But there is a constant and deliberate suppression of an important fact: tobacco does not spare even those who make money from it, especially farmers. The chairman of the Karnataka VFC Tobacco Growers` Federation, Javare Gowda, told The Hindu that the government had however imposed a penalty of 7.5 per cent of sales proceeds in addition to Rs 2 for every kg of tobacco grown without the permission of licence holders. Each licensed tobacco producer may only sell a maximum of 270 kg. Securely opening a tobacco and cigar merchant account is possible with high-risk merchant account specialists. These are the experts who are able to work with the major banks for you. The application process is not much different from that of a traditional bank and can be completed online. A very characteristic disease among tobacco growers is green tobacco disease.
It occurs when tobacco workers harvest, cut or load tobacco plants by hand, usually in the early morning or after a rain when tobacco plants are covered in moisture. It occurs due to the exposure of the skin to dissolved nicotine from tobacco leaves. Nicotine is a very harmful chemical that not only causes addiction, but can directly lead to several systemic diseases. The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products in vending machines and within 100 metres of educational institutions. In addition, several states prohibit the sale of individual cigarettes and gutka and other forms of smokeless tobacco. There are no restrictions on selling over the Internet or selling small packs of cigarettes or other tobacco products. The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited. Packaging and labelling requirements are contained in several implementing regulations adopted after the adoption of COTPA in 2003. G.S.R. 182(E) (Packaging and Labelling Rules, 2008) contains certain definitions and specifies the components (H.D. content, size, rotation, etc.) of health warnings, but various provisions of subsequent regulations replace some wording in the 2008 Regulations. For example, G.S.R.
In accordance with Article 693(E), health warnings must be printed, glued or affixed to outer packagings such as cartons. PARAGRAPH G.R.S. 305(E) updates the definition of “package” and the position of health warnings and removes the requirement that health warnings appear on both sides of the package of tobacco products. L.R.G. 985(E) increases the rotation period for health warnings from one year to two years and reinstates the warnings issued in paragraph 182(E) of the G.S.R. (G.S.R. 985(E) meant that health warnings for diseased lungs and scorpions remained in effect instead of the new warnings that were to come into effect in December 2010.) The government introduced new rounds of warnings on December 1, 2011 (through paragraph 417(E) of the G.S.R.) and April 1, 2013 (by paragraph 724(E) of the RSG). Tobacco can be harvested in several ways. In the oldest method, the whole plant is harvested in one go by cutting the stem at the bottom with a sickle. In the nineteenth century, light tobacco began to be harvested by tearing individual leaves from the stem as they ripened. As plants grow, they usually need to be topped and sucked up. “Filling” is the removal of tobacco flowers, while “suction cupping” is the cutting of leaves that are otherwise unproductive.
Both methods ensure that as much of the plant`s energy as possible is focused on producing the large leaves that are harvested and sold. “Cultivate”, “pull” and “primer” are terms used to remove mature leaves from tobacco plants. The leaves are cut as they ripen, from the bottom to the top of the stem. Tobacco has high direct and indirect costs to society due to the morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco product use. According to the Indian Medical Research Council, total losses due to tobacco-related diseases in 1999 amounted to about Rs 277.6 billion, or $6.5 billion. Estimates were 350,000 rupees for cancer, 29,000 rupees for coronary heart disease and more rupees.