Tobacco use 2000-2030

Context:

World Health Organisation (WHO) released global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use of 2000–2030.

Key Findings:

• Globally – at least 37 million (10%) adolescents aged 13–15 years are current users of tobacco
  • 25 million (13%) boys and 12 million (7%) girls.
• Globally, average rate of tobacco use among young people aged 15–24 years has declined
  •  Over 20% in 2000 to about 13% in 2022,
  • Projected to reach 12% in 2030.

Impacts of Tobacco use:

• Each year more than 8 million dies due to risk of heart disease, lung disorders, cancer etc., including estimated non-smokers of 1.3 million who are exposed to second-hand smoke.
• As per WHO estimates, global economic cost of smoking exceeds US$ 1 trillion annually, roughly about 1.8% of the world’s GDP.
• Deforestation due to tobacco cultivation.

Tobacco Industry:

• India  –
  • Producer – 2^nd largest after China
  • Export –  2^ndlargest after Brazil
• Major importers – Belgium, China, Indonesia, USA, Germany
• Production in India –
  • Area and production – Gujarat(1^st),  Andhra Pradesh (2^nd) and Karnataka(3^rd )Other states – Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), West Bengal (W.B.), Bihar, Tamil Nadu (T.N.) and Odisha
  • Exportable types – FCV, Burley and Oriental
• Productivity – 4^th after China, Brazil and USA

Tobacco Board:

• Statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• Mission – To strive for the overall development of tobacco growers and the Indian Tobacco Industry.
• Headquarters – Andhra Pradesh

Tobacco Crop:

• Commercial crops
• Drought tolerant, hardy and short duration crop
• Soil – grown where other crops cannot be cultivated profitably
• Climate –
  • Requires a frost-free period of 90 to 120 days
  • Optimum temperature – 20 to 30°C.
• “World No Tobacco Day” – Every year 31^st May

To control Tobacco use:

• Global initiatives –
  • WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) adopted in 2003.
    •  India ratified it in 2004.
  • MPOWER measures introduced by WHO
• India initiatives –
  • National Tobacco Control Programme
  • Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (2019) Act
  • Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (2003) Act
  • National Tobacco Quit Line Services etc.

Source: WHO

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Previous Year Question

Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat

Answer: (a)

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