“Just suffering. That’s it!”: Perspectives of Tobacco Farming Households on Tobacco Growing and Alternatives in Mozambique

Authors

Raphael Lencucha, McGill University, Faculty of MedicineFollow
Benedito Cunguara, Independent researcher - Maputo, Mozambique

Abstract

Tobacco is viewed as an important cash crop for farmers in Southern Africa and many countries around the world. This analysis explores the perspectives of farmers who are growing tobacco in Mozambique. The main aim of this analysis is to describe the perspectives of tobacco growers on the conditions of tobacco growing and their perspectives on possible alternatives. This analysis is situated in relation to efforts by countries like Mozambique to implement Article 17 of the WHO FCTC, which outlines the need for governments to support alternatives to tobacco growing.

This study applied a qualitative description methodology to explore the perspectives of farming households on tobacco growing and the conditions that shape their experiences. We conducted focus group discussions in four tobacco growing districts of Angonia, Cuamba, Macanga, and Mandimba in Tete and Niassa provinces . The number of focus group participants ranged from 10 to 24. In each district we conducted two sets of focus groups. One with men (n=4) and one with women (n=4).

We organized our findings in two broad categories. The first category, perspectives on tobacco growing, presents the key features of tobacco growing as described by the participants across regions. Participants emphasized the economic hardships or ‘suffering’ that resulted from tobacco growing. The second category revolves around perspectives on alternatives to tobacco growing and the conditions necessary to switch from tobacco to another crop or other form of livelihood. This second category involved an exploration of the tension between existing alternatives and the inaccessibility of alternatives particularly in relation to alternative crops.

Conclusions: The findings of this study are similar to those from other studies in the region. Small holder tobacco growers in Mozambique share similarities in terms of reason for growing tobacco, the factors that lead to contract farming, and their perspective on the economic challenges faced.

Recommended Citation

Lencucha, Raphael and Cunguara, Benedito (2024) "“Just suffering. That’s it!”: Perspectives of Tobacco Farming Households on Tobacco Growing and Alternatives in Mozambique," Southern African Journal of Policy and Development: Vol. 7: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/sajpd/vol7/iss2/5