Tobacco on the agenda: Subcommittee of the Rio Grande do Sul State Assembly holds a meeting with leaderships in Santa Cruz do Sul

June 2023 - The Subcommittee for the Defense of the Tobacco Supply Chain, linked to the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives of the Rio Grande do Sul State Assembly, promoted on Friday June 16, the first of ten meetings to be held in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul with the aim to debate and see to the future and to the economic and social importance of the sector, as well as for collecting data and evidences to formulate and forward the positioning of Rio Grande do Sul - largest tobacco grower in Brazil - with regard to the provisions of the 10^th Conference of the Parties (COP 10), of the Framework convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The working meeting brought together approximately 300 people at the City Council Hall in Santa Cruz do Sul, including representatives of the supply chain, authorities, politicians and entrepreneurial leaderships. The premise was presented by deputy Marcus Vinícius de Almeida, coordinator of the Subcommittee. "We want to give voice to those who frequently are judged without right to their defense. We cannot afford to allow people, who do not know the reality of the farmers, to dictate the future of our municipalities", he commented. According to the deputy, the Committee will hold meetings in 10 municipalities, listening to farmers and companies.

State deputy Elton Weber presided over the meeting and prompted the debates. "We know that the federal government will have a seat at the COP and it is our intention to define, in unified fashion, with all entities linked to the sector, our firm stance. It is an attempt to prevent ideological positions, but positions in accordance with what the sector produces and related to the everyday activities of the sector", Weber said. The deputy mentioned that the ministries had been invited to participate and regretted the absence of their representatives.

Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) president Iro Schünke spoke about his expectation for the upcoming months. "We have plenty of work ahead of us, what we have witnessed in other editions is that the supply chain is simply ignored. Brazil, due to its global leadership position, should be an advocate of the supply chain. Unfortunately, it is not what we have seen, while the measures of the Framework Convention are always immediately applied in our country. This is the speed that our Subcommittee now needs. We need to work quickly to finish the report before August, so that we are effective in our provisions sent to Brasília. Support from all is necessary, but in Brasília. Political pressure is the only manner for us to move forward", Schünke concluded.

Several authorities expressed their opinions at the meeting. Please check:

All of us are fully aware of the importance of tobacco. In Santa Cruz do Sul, without any doubt, 70% of the municipal taxes come from the tobacco companies. The production and exports of this crop play an essential role in our municipality and there is need to reflect on the issue: What will happen to our municipality without tobacco? This work is very important and the report will be valuable, because if the federal government decides to ignore our situation, we will let them know our concerns about the subject. Helena Hermany, mayor of Santa Cruz do Sul.

It is difficult to believe that heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes have not yet been regulated by Anvisa. And, amazingly, many authorities who are against tobacco farming are, amazingly, advocating for the liberalization of marijuana.Edivilson Brum, state deputy.

In my capacity as mayor, I had the opportunity to be a member of the delegation that kept a close watch on all COPs. We need to discover the objective of this war waged against the supply chain. More important than the questions of health and fierce ideological battles, there are bitter feelings against an industry and a well-organized sector. We need to sensitize the ministries and, in particular, the Itamaraty Palace. In the meantime, there is need to keep leadership committees at the door of the COP, even without any access to the sessions, it makes a difference. Airton Artus, state deputy.

We are here on behalf of the farmers, who support their families, get their kids into college, due to their profits from tobacco. The tobacco companies generate income, jobs and taxes. We want the federal and state government involved in this debate to come to grips with what we already know: without tobacco, we will surely have a problem in the economy of our Country.Kelly Moraes, state deputy.

Here we talk to people who applaud us when we defend the sector. But, at federal level, we have already been booed off the stage and viewed as assassins. Beyond the question of health, we should understand that there are commercial interests in these fights against the production of tobacco in Brazil, especially fights waged by antismoking NGOs, financed toward this end. More than that: the United States and Argentina are not signatories to the Framework Convention and are interested in putting an end to the tobacco farming business in our Country. If we stopped cultivating tobacco, would this diminish the number of smokers? Certainly not. My suggestion is that the Subcommittee should ask the FCTC for a much needed counterpoint. And, more than that, extend the right to counterpoint to the other tobacco producing states, so that we have more political representativeness. Marcelo Moraes, federal deputy.

We need to make the mayors of tobacco growing regions aware of the importance of tobacco for their municipalities. We have to work jointly and Amprotabaco is ready to engage in this fight. Guido Hoff, executive manager at the Association of Tobacco Growing Municipalities (Amprotabaco).

The regions where tobacco is cultivated have an excellent human development index, in comparison with other states. We informed the federal government about it for the authorities to have a broader knowledge of the reality in our sector. Here there are no marketing campaigns inducing people to smoke, but there is need for people to make their own choices, especially when it comes to growing a crop that generates income and jobs for many people. This is the suggestion for the government, instead of spending money on antismoking campaigns, this money should be used for promoting public policies focused on family farming.Sérgio Reis, president of the Rural Producers' Union is Santa Cruz do Sul and representative of the Federation of Farm Workers in Rio Grande do Sul (FETAG-RS) and of Fentifumo.

We have attended, either directly or indirectly, all COPs and we do not understand how Brazil is willing to disturb such a productive sector, which generates income and social wellbeing. But we continue determined, with the same strength and willpower as usual on behalf of the tobacco farmers.Marco Antonio dos Santos, representative of FARSUL.

We will take the plea of the State Government representatives in these works and I can anticipate that we know all about the social and economic importance of the crop. I am a farmer and tobacco grower and it surprises me when the federal government talks about diversification. Monoculture has been left behind with support from unions, Afubra and tobacco companies. Those who decided to ignore this work are not in contact with reality.Dalvo Wink, coordinator of the Regional Secretariat of Agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul.

We put the University at the disposal and we understand that we, like other sectors of the region, should join this important fight. There is no doubt that the social and economic matrix is strengthened by the tobacco sectorRafael Henn, UNISC University Dean.

If we compare tobacco with other crops, like soybean and corn, which are traditionally grown in crop diversification initiatives, the average income derived from one hectare of tobacco is equivalent to 6.52 hectares of soybean and 6.85 hectares of corn. Farmers do not need to grow food crops, they need to grow tobacco for their food on the table. Benício Albano Werner, president of the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra).

We regret the lack of awareness of our administrators, at federal level. The government should never carry out a campaign like the one on May 31. In our Country, tobacco is a licit crop. I am sure we will be able to turn the tide here. Jarbas Daniel da Rosa, mayor of Venâncio Aires and vice-president of AmproTabaco.

Photos: Jacson Stülp

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