Embracing Collective Efforts to bring solidarity in times of disruption

When this pandemic emerged and expanded we immediately thought about the dangerous disruption that it could carry into the lives of vulnerable smallholder famers.
A prevention plan is key to avoid it, especially when the selling season is beginning in most African tobacco growing countries. ITGA has focused on these small non-contracted farmers for sometime.
We estimate there may be more than 300,000 farmers in this situation in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe alone. We have put all our efforts in reaching out to them and their communities to provide information and, eventually, basic safety equipment.
ITGA members must be interacting with state or non-state organizations, UN Agencies inclusive; as we together look at supporting livelihoods of the tobacco-dependent masses. Let institutions support each other as we endeavor to sustain or improve the livelihoods of tobacco farmers.
ITGA President
Abiel M. Kalima Banda ITGA President
In Salta is difficult to stop producing tobacco because is the only structured crop able to provide jobs and high frequency labour. It also provides social and mutual services. This level of support is not easily replaced by other productions. Giving up on this schemes requires reinventing markets and economies and that is something impossible to achieve at this stage.
ITGA Vice President
José J. Aranda ITGA Vice President
The latest world developments have shown us our limitations and fragilities against sudden events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This should be a call to work in a more integrated, coordinated, and holistic system. Tobacco Growers' are willing to contribute to this improvement and remain committed to the sustainability of their regions.
ITGA Chief Executive
António Abrunhosa ITGA Chief Executive

Small Scale Farming in Africa

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
Fever
Tiredness

 

Dry cough

 

Other less common symptoms aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose, mouth or breathing in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. Therefore, it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Our members at the core of coordination in each country we have outlined different initiatives. Check our ideas:

Traveling truck

Community centre

Information is key to understand the potential impact of the incoming crisis: check sector info-hub

May, 2020

Cooperativa de Productores Tabacaleros de Salta & ITGA Vice-President by José J. Aranda, Argentina

Yes, other agricultural productions are experiencing greater difficulties than tobacco. Since these productions are struggling with the drop in prices and demand, and even more if the focus is on the domestic market, export-focused productions have a better perspective.
May, 2020

Cooperativa de Productores Tabacaleros de Salta & ITGA Vice-President by José J. Aranda, Argentina

To the tobacco grower, two prices are important: the price paid upon delivery which ends in June, and the price/value of the FET which is a supplement paid to farmers to help face the costs of a new campaign.
May, 2020

Cooperativa de Productores Tabacaleros de Salta & ITGA Vice-President by José J. Aranda, Argentina

As Misiones is the last region to begin the delivery of tobacco it was the most affected by the COVID-19. The delay and the slow progress of the marketing season have affected the quality of the tobacco leaf.
Apr, 2020

TAMAs Farmer Trust by Nixon Lita, Malawi

We have 50,816 registered entities for 2020 production and we estimate that this represents about 508,160 individuals. Out of this 137,203 individuals are estimated to be on auction sale category. The 2020 selling markets have opened, with a lot of restrictive measures, one of which is to reduce the number of people on the market, as such we have restricted growers not to visit the market, but rather use IT products on phones to get market information.
Apr, 2020

Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation by Eddie Wambewo, Uganda

Most workers rarely wash hands it should upon employers to emphasis it in order to avoid infections.
Apr, 2020

by Christine Apolot, Uganda

The farmer's payments should be made directly to the banks so that farmers use mobile Apps for bank transactions and pay through mobile transactions and avoid going to the banks to make deposits.
Apr, 2020

by Milika, Malawi

Drums and Water systems to follow basic hygiene guidelines e.g. a drum of water in a malaria zone could be a breeding ground for another problem.
Apr, 2020

NAT2010 by Tsvetan Filev, Bulgaria

The restrictions to the free movement of people is affecting the labour supply and may cause labour shortages in the tobacco growing sector. There have been delays in the delivery of inputs that are required to grow tobacco (fertilizers and pesticides) this situation can have a significant impact in the domestic tobacco output. The payments for the tobacco purchased in Bulgaria during 2019 have not yet been completed which burdens tobacco growers.
Apr, 2020

Burley Stabilization Corporation by Daniel Green, United States of America

Contracts were reduced prior to this event as purchasers continue their normal shift away from the USA and to cheaper sources of tobacco and no changes have been made. The USA was lucky that the timing did not create a significant disruption as flue-cured transplanting had just begun and most of the crop is still in the greenhouse with ground preparations being made. Tobacco companies should react quickly to make commitments to growers that will help prevent a significant loss of farms as growers struggle with many challenges to sell their crops.

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ITGA is the only worldwide Tobacco Growers’ association leading growers around the globe since 1984 in the search for a better sustainable future.
ITGA was created 40 years ago by the main tobacco growing countries at the time and since then sustainability of our farmers and their communitties have been key in the core objectives of our association.

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