Bangladesh stops tobacco cultivation in the Halda basin, protecting carp breeding, curbing agrochemical pollution and promoting alternative crops to secure biodiversity and livelihoods.
Authorities in Bangladesh have halted tobacco cultivation in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district, located within the ecologically sensitive Halda River basin, in a major step toward protecting one of the world’s most unique freshwater ecosystems.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, coordinated efforts by the district and upazila administrations alongside the Department of Fisheries ensured that no tobacco cultivation took place in the area this year.
Conservationists and environmental experts have welcomed the government’s intervention, describing it as a crucial step toward protecting Bangladesh’s freshwater biodiversity and strengthening climate resilience in ecologically vulnerable river basins.
Experts say continued monitoring, farmer support programmes and strong enforcement measures will be essential to ensuring long-term protection of the Halda River, which remains a vital ecological and economic lifeline for Bangladesh.
The Halda River holds global ecological importance as Bangladesh’s only natural breeding ground for major carp species and is officially recognised as a fisheries heritage site. The river plays a crucial role in supplying fertilised carp eggs that support aquaculture production across the country, sustaining livelihoods and contributing significantly to national food security.
Tobacco Linked to Breeding Crisis
Environmental researchers have long warned that tobacco cultivation along the Halda riverbanks poses severe ecological risks due to the excessive use of pesticides and agrochemicals, which contaminate water and disrupt aquatic biodiversity.
Scientific investigations identified tobacco farming as one of the key reasons behind a major ecological alarm in 2016, when brood fish in the Halda River failed to release eggs, an unprecedented event that raised concerns among fisheries experts and conservationists.
Professor Dr Manjurul Kibria, Chairman of the Department of Zoology at the University of Chittagong and Coordinator of the Halda River Research Laboratory, said extensive tobacco cultivation along the riverbanks in Manikchhari was identified as a significant contributing factor to the breeding disruption.
He noted that following the crisis, the Halda River Research Laboratory, in collaboration with the University of Chittagong, the International Development Foundation (IDF) and financial support from PKSF, launched extensive initiatives from 2017 to discourage tobacco farming and restore sustainable agricultural practices.
Restoration Efforts and Industry Pressure
The initiative initially yielded remarkable success. By 2021 to 2022, nearly 99 percent of tobacco farmers in the area had returned to conventional agriculture and alternative crop cultivation.
However, conservation efforts later faced challenges. Researchers observed that tobacco companies reportedly increased financial incentives to farmers, raising support packages by nearly four times starting in 2023, which encouraged some farmers to return to tobacco cultivation.
Recent field observations by Halda researchers indicated that tobacco cultivation, which had previously declined to around 1 percent of farmers, had risen again to nearly 20 percent in certain areas, raising fresh environmental concerns.
Experts warned that the resurgence posed a renewed threat to the fragile breeding ecosystem of the Halda River.
Government Moves to Enforce Ban
In response, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock amended the existing gazette on November 5 last year, formally prohibiting tobacco cultivation within the Halda River basin area.
The enforcement drive gained further momentum following a decision taken at the Khagrachhari district law and order committee meeting on December 21, 2025, which directed authorities to take necessary steps to stop both tobacco farming and illegal sand extraction activities in the Halda basin.
As part of the implementation, the Manikchhari upazila fisheries office and local administration directly engaged with tobacco farmers, informing them about the government notification and advising them not to plant tobacco seedlings, which are typically planted between December and January.
Official records show that in the previous year, 11 farmers cultivated tobacco on nearly 20 acres of land in the region. Authorities confirmed that tobacco cultivation has now been completely halted for the current season.
To ensure farmers do not suffer economic losses, the Department of Agricultural Extension is promoting alternative crops including mustard, maize and seasonal vegetables. Officials believe these crops not only provide stable income opportunities but also help promote environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
