Kenya, UN agencies launch initiative to end tobacco farming in the country
March 23, 2022, 4:36 pm

Kenya, UN agencies launch initiative to end tobacco farming in the country

Tobacco farming (File photo: Pixabay)

The Xinhua reported, Kenya's Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Wednesday launched an initiative to hasten an end to tobacco farming in the country.

The Tobacco-Free Farms project, launched in the western Kenyan county of Migori will support local subsistence farmers' shift to the cultivation of alternatives like legumes that are less harmful to the environment and human health.

Mutahi Kagwe, the cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that a gradual phasing out of tobacco farming at the smallholder level will boost food security and attainment of health-related sustainable development goals in the country.

According to Kagwe, Kenya has become a trailblazer across Africa in accelerating a switch from tobacco farming to nutritious and eco-friendly alternatives such as beans. He said that despite contributing about 1 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), tobacco had worsened the burden of respiratory diseases in the country, besides harming vital ecosystems such as watersheds. Tobacco farming had also escalated gender inequality, rural poverty, deforestation and soil degradation in the country, prompting the need to shift to alternatives that guarantee better incomes, improved water and soil quality.

Crowded street in Nairobi, Kenya (File photo: Pixabay)

The Ministry of Health statistics indicate the country loses more than 6,000 people annually due to tobacco-related diseases while an estimate of 2.7 million adults and 220,000 children consume tobacco products daily.

From August to December 2021, Kenya lost 62 elephants due to drought

Juliet Nabyonga, the acting WHO representative in Kenya, said that reducing tobacco production and consumption in the country will boost health outcomes and transform rural livelihoods.

Nabyonga said that Kenya was among the first countries to ratify the legally binding WHO framework convention on tobacco control in 2004, adding that the country had also enacted progressive legislation and policies to facilitate the adoption of alternative crops by smallholder farmers.

Kenyans mourn river bus accident victims after death toll rises to 24

Carla Mucavi, the FAO representative in Kenya, said the Tobacco-Free Farms initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of local subsistence farmers through the adoption of healthy, nutritious and environmentally sound alternative crops.

Source: xinhua

UK calls on YouTube to remove videos 'doctored' by Russian state EU to suspend green farming rules to respond to the global needs for food

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.