*Photograph: An evaluation of Brazil\u2019s trade balance shows positive results for the tobacco market. However, the imbalances in its production chain remain a constant point of contention between farmers and the industry.The protographs in this article correspond to the tobacco cultivation in the region of Rancho dos Bugres, Santa Catarina (Fabio Fabro\/Personal archive)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Tobacco has been our family’s livelihood since the first immigrants, so it was a given”, recalls Jovana Bernardt, referring to her childhood, spent among the crops. As the daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin of tobacco farmers, she grew up surrounded by this work. For her family, cultivating tobacco was both an inherited practice and virtually the only option, given their limited schooling and the scarcity of other opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this background, Jovana broke the cycle by graduating in Occupational Therapy in 2021 from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). Her final thesis broached a pain deeply rooted in her rural experience: the suicide of tobacco farmers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. While other studies<\/a> indicate that these deaths are related to the intense and prolonged exposure to pesticides<\/a>, Jovana pointed out another likely factor: the farmers’ debts and lack of autonomy, especially regarding negotiations over adjustments and tobacco pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) show that<\/a> between January and April 2025, Brazil exported US$907.6 million in tobacco, its best results for the first quadrimester in a decade. This represents a 17.87% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when exports totaled US$776.6 million. The impact on the state economy is direct, as cities such as Santa Cruz do Sul and Ven\u00e2ncio Aires, in central Rio Grande do Sul, are home to the world’s largest tobacco-processing complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research conducted by Jovana<\/a> together with Tatiana Dimov, a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at UFSM, indicates that despite these figures, profit is concentrated in the hands of the industry. Despite directly employing more than forty thousand people<\/a>, the companies keep tobacco farmers economically dependent and under extremely unequal power relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Emater-RS\/Ascar supervisor Volnei Leitzke, tobacco cultivation was established in the South due to a combination of geographical and economic factors. “Tobacco is the crop that provides the greatest financial return and its sale is guaranteed by the tobacco companies, which provide the supplies and ensure that the production is purchased,” he explains. He emphasizes that, for small family-owned properties, which are the majority in the southern region of the country, this combination makes tobacco the most economically viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The relationship between tobacco farmers and the industry follows a very structured script. According to Jovana, it all begins with visits from technicians, known as instructors, who are directly linked to the companies. These professionals guide farmers and help calculate expected production. She explains that because many farmers cannot afford to buy supplies on the open market, the instructor estimates the amounts needed, formalizes the order and, after a while, the company itself delivers everything to the farmer’s property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The loan often turns out more expensive than a direct purchase would have been for products that aren’t even of the same quality”.<\/p>\nJovana Bernardt<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Most tobacco farmers have small properties, ranging from 5 to 10 acres. “Tobacco production, specifically, is closely tied to family farming, relying primarily on the family’s own labor. This, in turn, limits their ability to expand and diversify their production,” Volnei explains .<\/p>\n\n\n\n While guaranteed sales are attractive, the farmers end up with little bargaining power. Though the profit from the previous harvest should last the whole year, the farmers need to turn back to the company’s loan system to be able to handle the high costs of production every harvest. And, even after the sale, the farmer has no guarantees of a positive net return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the harvest season, the company takes the tobacco to the factory, where the employees classify the product. Jovana explains that if the farmers disagree with the classification, they may refuse to sell their production, but they must pay for its return to their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to information provided by the Brazilian Tobacco Farmers Association (Afubra) via email, the total earnings for farmers in the South during the 2023\/2024 harvest reached BRL 11.78 billion, with average revenue per producer at BRL 88.4 thousand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these numbers, Jovana says that debt is a constant in the sector: “Every family I interviewed was, without exception, in debt”. It is at this point that she relates this cycle of dependency to the emotional difficulties faced by many farmers, including cases of depression and suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the concerns don’t stop there. In a routine marked by hard work, low automation, and serious risks to farmers’ health, occupational safety emerges as another frequently neglected concern of the production chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rerbert Lessa knows this scenario well. Born in the Cangu\u00e7u region, he used to be a day laborer on neighboring properties and, years later, allied his lived experience with his academic education to further investigate the subject. An occupational safety technician and undergraduate in the Rural Development program at UFRGS, Rerbert has focused his thesis<\/a> precisely on this scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His experience has allowed him to observe and analyze more clearly the risks that these workers are exposed to. “Tobacco growing takes place nearly year-round. It’s a continuous routine. It begins with preparing the land, the uneven ground… This work impacts the farmer’s physical condition, including bones and muscles”, he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When compared to other crops, such as soy, tobacco presents specific challenges. “In soy cultivation, nearly everything is automated; but in tobacco, most of the work is manual. It takes a lot out of the body and mind”, he says. This labor-intensive nature makes the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) even more important. Yet, Rerbert claims that current use is far from ideal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also risks associated with the use of pesticides, such as inhalation of toxic dust and direct contact with the nicotine present in the leaves. “Tobacco dust affects respiratory health. And greenhouse fires are very common in the region. Sometimes, all of the tobacco in a greenhouse is burnt.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on the interviews conducted with the farmers, Emater technicians, and public officials during his research, Rerbert has identified a concerning pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Most government agencies provide guidance on the use of protective equipment, in their own way, but adoption remains low. Many farmers don’t use PPE because they see it as cumbersome and useless. It is already the norm not to use it, so the habit must be created. The farmer may even want to use it, but it ends up neglecting to”.<\/p>\nRerbert Lessa<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In his analysis, he also criticizes the tobacco companies. He argues that their nearly exclusive focus on profit places the worker in the background. “The companies keep dragging their feet on this. They only make changes when there is a formal complaint or stronger inspections\u201d, he states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to economic vulnerability, tobacco farmers are also vulnerable to diseases such as Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), which is caused by poisoning due to nicotine absorbed through the skin during plant handling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers report<\/a> that over 90% of tobacco farmers exhibit symptoms related to the disease, based on interviews with 107 workers for a study published last week by the Regional University of Blumenau (Furb), Santa Catarina State University (Udesc), and Argentina\u2019s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet). <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Pharmacy student at the State University of Ponta Grossa, Tatiane Schmane also noticed these signs among farmers.The then undergraduate student began to notice how often friends and family members who worked in tobacco harvesting in Paran\u00e1’s countryside reported nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal pain. Tatiane, who at the time was taking the Toxicology course in her undergraduate program, hypothesized that the symptoms might be related to GTS and decided to investigate the topic under the supervision of Professor Stella de Bortoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The research<\/a> was structured as a descriptive and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Two questionnaires were administered to the farmers. One aimed at identifying symptoms of GTS and the use of PPE, and another focused on assessing quality of life across four domains: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The results were alarming. “During the harvest, most participants reported symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which reinforces the occurrence of Green Tobacco Sickness,” says Stella. 77,4% of respondents reported wearing some type of PPE; however, even among these, many wear inadequate clothing when handling nicotine, such as cotton pieces that easily absorb sweat and moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Some variables, such as daytime temperature, exacerbated sweating due to physical exertion, presence of dew or high air humidity, can potentiate exposure and aggravate the poisoning”.<\/p>\nStella de Bortoli <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The most common symptoms reported include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, pallor, salivation, chills, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Despite the direct impact on their health, most workers do not seek medical care. “Little is said about poisoning<\/a> and many farmers are even unaware of it. Since the symptoms are self-limiting, they tend not to seek help”, laments Stella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “If I ask a tobacco farmer, ‘Why do you grow tobacco?’, they will say something like: ‘Because the company provides me with all the supplies, offers technical assistance, and guarantees that my product will be purchased’. That is, they know that if they produce it, they will be able to sell it”, explains Valdemir Antoneli, a professor at the State University of Central-West Paran\u00e1 (Unicentro).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the health risks, transitioning to other crops is a leap in the dark for many. The desire to diversify production exists in many families, but doing so requires a support structure that allows small farmers to leave tobacco behind. Unlike more perishable products, tobacco has the advantage of being storable. Tobacco can wait to be collected, whereas products such as milk, strawberries or tomatoes have a very short marketing window, requiring efficient logistics and adequate infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The structure of the tobacco market also provides a level of security that few alternative crops can match. As mentioned before, the purchase is guaranteed by the companies, the supplies are provided in advance and payment is certain, although the profit is not particularly high. This creates a dependency that is difficult to overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It happens naturally: when there is security and structure, farmers gradually reduce their tobacco cultivation. But this transition can only intensify with consistent public policies”.<\/p>\nVolnei Leitzke<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n There are alternatives that have shown positive results. The creation of dairy basins, the promotion of rural tourism, the strengthening of family agribusiness, and the introduction of grain production, such as soybeans and corn, are some of the ongoing diversification experiences. But they all depend on one essential component: organization. “Our region does not have a consolidated cooperativism tradition or structure. We have been working carefully on this process for a long time”, says Volnei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jovana agrees. From her perspective, valuing agribusinesses and labor is urgent: “Farmers stand by the roadside to sell strawberries under a 104 \u00b0F sun. This is unhealthy too”, she notes. These factors discourage tobacco-growing families from experimenting with other types of cultivation, and it is common for them to return to tobacco after unprofitable and equally exhausting attempts with other crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “As a society, we all need economic returns to survive, so production has to be economically viable”, Leitzke says. \u201cBut experience shows us that if alternatives are strengthened, these families would be willing to change, and, in many cases, to drastically abandon tobacco cultivation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The soil, one of the main pillars of agricultural production, is also impacted by tobacco cultivation. This is what Antoneli points out from research conducted in tobacco production regions in south-central Paran\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Tobacco has been gaining ground in steeper areas, with shallow soils and harsh winters, which make it difficult to practice more than one agricultural activity per year,” explains the Unicentro professor. These conditions, coupled with the history of colonization by European immigrants who settled small farms, have helped shape the central role of tobacco in the region’s rural economy. The predominant use of conventional agricultural practices, without conservation measures, has contributed to soil erosion, especially on lands with slopes greater than 25% or 30%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn my doctoral research, I investigated the sources of sediment and found that 95% of the sediment that reaches the river comes from tobacco growing,\u201d reports Antoneli. This indicates that soil erosion not only compromises soil fertility, but also contaminates water bodies with sediment and pesticide residues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key techniques in this scenario is called minimum tillage. In this process, tobacco is planted on top of a ground cover made from plant debris. This layer reduces the force of rainfall and soil loss. Professor Antoneli says that “with conventional techniques, soil loss can reach 25 to 50 tons per hectare per crop, while with minimal cultivation this loss is reduced to 15 to 20 tons, almost three times less”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He cites his own family’s case as an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “My father has been growing tobacco for 50 years on the same land, on a slope of about 60 to 65 feet in length. I conducted an analysis and found that he’s already lost approximately 12 inches of soil, basically the most fertile part, which was carried down into the local stream”.<\/p>\nValdemir Antoneli<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This data reinforces the importance of diversifying production, which, according to the researcher, would be ideal. \u201cMeanwhile, we need to reduce the environmental harm caused by our farming practices.” In many cases, soil degradation can become so severe that it makes the transition to other crops unfeasible, and even compromises tobacco cultivation itself, directly impacting farmers\u2019 livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, for farmers, who are often pressured by the need for immediate income, the adoption of more sustainable practices must occur gradually. “It isn’t easy to convince a farmer to change their methods, especially since their main concern is cost-effectiveness,” acknowledges the researcher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite this challenge, Valdemir, who has been dedicated to this theme for more than 20 years and is committed to seeing advances, points out that government support is essential. “Researchers, students, and partner institutions depend on financial incentives to carry out studies, conduct investigations, forge paths, and propose sustainable changes,” he emphasizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 12th, the JU staff contacted the companies Tabacos Marasca (a tobacco processor based in Rio Grande do Sul), CTA Continental Tobaccos Alliance (a company in the tobacco processing and export sector, with national operations) and Alliance One Brasil (one of the largest tobacco exporters in the country), in order to hear their positions on the subjects covered in this report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time of publication, there has been no response from Tabacos Marasca and CTA Continental Tobaccos Alliance. Alliance One Brasil, on the other hand, reported that the request has been forwarded to the advisory board of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), which would respond sectorally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out the note sent by SindiTabaco to JU on July 21st below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n SindiTabaco clarifies that:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Translated into English by Vit\u00f3ria Hasselmann Sturm<\/strong>, undergraduate student enrolled in the course \u201cSupervised Translation Training II (English)\u201d of the Undergraduate Program in Language and Literature, under the supervision and translation revision of Professor Rozane Rebechi (P.h.D.) \u2013 IL\/UFRGS. :: Read in portuguese<\/strong>The relationship between tobacco farmers and the industry<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Inadequate use of Personal Protective Equipment<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\nPoisoning during handling<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Barriers and possibilities for crop diversification<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Impacts also reach the soil<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Contact with the industry<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Por tr\u00e1s dos lucros da ind\u00fastria do fumo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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