Tobacco farming in Indonesia: facts and myths

Background and challenges to implementation Indonesia is the third amongst the countries with the highest smoker's population and first rank for male smoker globally. Tobacco Farmer livelihood and welfare are issues that used by tobacco industry to encounter tobacco control in Indonesia. The average income of tobacco farmers are less than 1 million in a month. FCTC ratification in Indonesia always been questioned by government for its relation to tobacco farmer's welfare. Government and parliament member still believe that tobacco control will give impact to tobacco farmer's livelihood. Therefore, in 2016 Parliament member proposed to draft bill on tobacco that opposing the existed tobacco control policy. Our policy advocacy program that supported by The Union focus on advocacy government and parliament members for FCTC accession through providing data and information about the correlation of tobacco farmers welfare with tobacco control. This policy target about 261 million of Indonesian people . While the case studies for tobacco farmer welfare was taken in Central Java (Yogya and Temanggung) and East Java (Jember , Bondowoso). Intervention or response Case studies at Central Java and East Java through interview, survey and video documenter Developed policy document to show the fact that tobacco farmer's welfare Direct advocacy meeting with related stakeholders Media advocacy in providing the witnesses of tobacco farmer. Results and lessons learnt · Policy document has been delivered to president secretariat office and parliament member. · Media and public awareness was important to reduce misleading information on tobacco farming. · Tobacco industry interference and lobbying is very strong especially in the parliament. Conclusions and key recommendations · The Fact that tobacco Farmers, who had diversification into other crops such as coffee, rice, are more prosperous. · The fact that tobacco control does not give impact to the farmer's welfare. · FCTC ratification is opportunity for tobacco farmer to improve their welfare. The government should support alternative for the farmer.