Asian farmers group opposes new tobacco curbs

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Asian farmers launched a campaign on Tuesday opposing international tobacco treaty measures they say could devastate the livelihood of the region's 10 million tobacco growers.

The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) said the campaign by its Asia chapter includes an online petition and YouTube testimonials urging governments to reject some of the proposals being developed under the World Health Organisation (WHO) treaty.

ITGA chief executive Antonio Abrunhosa said farmers are against proposals to limit the land area where tobacco can be grown and other curbs to reduce tobacco production.

The treaty known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been adopted by 176 countries since its inception in 2005. The measures aimed at promoting alternatives to tobacco growing will be debated by treaty signatories at a November meeting in South Korea. They would be binding only for countries that formally adopt them in a protocol to the treaty.