Tobacco growing does not only result in health related problems but also comes with a cycle of poverty and debt, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Health Minister, said on Wednesday. According to him, it was associated with serious health risks, including poisoning, skin diseases and various types of cancer. Dr Kunbuor said these in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Second Meeting of the Working Grouping on Economically Sustainable Alternative to Tobacco Growing in relation to Article 17 and 18 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), in Accra. Article 17 of the Convention mandates parties (governments) to support economically viable alternative activities while Article 18 borders on the protection of the environment. The WHO Convention was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic, which was facilitated by a variety of complex factors with cross border effects. It is an evidence-based treaty that affirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. Experts from over 20 countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil, India, Mali, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand and Canada would deliberate and develop guidelines for the two articles as set out in the Framework. Dr Kunbuor said tobacco farming had serious environmental impact as it caused pollution, soil degradation and deforestation, contributing to adverse climate change and losses in bio-diversity. He said the issues relating to article 17 and 18 of the convention were complex because they indicated how responsible governments could be in supporting farmers and industries to produce healthy products even as they preserved the environment. According to him, they were equally complex because they dealt with the core strategies of tackling poverty and taking development to the rural areas, the fact that producing tobacco and it products had been the way of life for many families despite the negative impact it had on health and the environment. He underscored the necessity to support farmers and producers with alternative livelihoods. Mr Kumbour said despite the low implementation rates of the articles 17 and 18 of the convention, it was gratifying that emerging studies showed there was a range of alternatives to tobacco growing that were more economically viable for small farming families and less harmful to farmers' health as well as the environment. He expressed the hope that the meeting would work towards flagging the barriers and assisting farmers and other tobacco workers in securing long-term sustainable livelihoods. Dr George Amofa, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said implementation of the articles were key challenges but was optimistic that participants would be up to the task. Source: GNA