A large number of developing countries are economically dependent
on tobacco export and a major proportion
of their gross national product, government revenue and
employment comes from tobacco production. But
tobacco production has a lot of environmental consequences. Apart
from the intensive use of fertilisers,
pesticides and water, it affects the people's health, especially
by nicotine poisoning. Also, tobacco cultivation
goes hand in hand with deforestation, because for flue and fire
curing of one kg of tobacco, 5.9-12.9 kg of wood
is required. Consequently, the Food and Agricultural Organization
and United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development has advised the principal tobacco-dependent
countries to change the land use pattern and to
diversify toward production of other crops
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