Helping Zambia’s farmers ditch tobacco

As the market for tobacco leaf gradually declines, innovative financing offers a window of opportunity to help farmers transition to better, alternative livelihoods

Small farmers working under contract with the tobacco industry tend to have far lower incomes and higher labour costs than other smallholders. Photo: Gail Hurley/UNDP

Their message was clear: we’d prefer to farm something else, but can’t afford to do so.

Photo by Finn Gross Maurer on Unsplash
Tobacco farmers are not compensated for additional costs, such as building curing sheds. Photo: Gail Hurley/UNDP
Tobacco growing is estimated to account for five percent of all deforestation. Photo: UNDP Zambia
Photo: UNDP Zambia

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Transforming our world #By2030. Visit us at www.undp.org

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