 "Tobacco farmers' lobby group demands inclusion in upcoming WHO conference")
The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), which represents tobacco farmers in the country, has demanded that it be included in the upcoming Framework Convection on Tobacco Control(FCTC) Conference of Parties(COP 7) meeting scheduled to be held in India from November 7-12.
The tobacco farmers' lobbying body claimed the decisions on tobacco control at this conference will affect the livelihoods of millions of tobacco farmers and farm labour connected to tobacco cultivation in the country.
Commenting on the absence of representatives of Indian tobacco farmers at the conference, B V Javare Gowda, president of FAIFA said, "As representatives of the tobacco farmers in India and in view of the fact that the COP7 is being hosted by India, we wish to make an urgent appeal that farmers should be allowed to participate in the deliberations of the conference. Our participation will help us understand the future course of actions being proposed by the WHO on tobacco control and the impact of these measures on the tobacco crop cultivated by us and the livelihood of millions that are dependent o tobacco in the country."
The federation's general secretary Murali Babu said they have also written to the government to include FAIFA representatives in the official Indian delegation at the meetings.
"It was a matter of great concern for us that FCTC decisions in the past are made behind closed doors, with media, the public and tobacco farmers excluded for the process. It is clear that the interest of tobacco growers are not represented in the debates especially when the decisions have a direct bearing on the lives of tobacco growers," Murali Babu stated.