Abstract

Background: Tobacco growing is one of the major causes, if not the main one of deforestation in the world, especially for crop expansion and for use of wood to cure tobacco.
Objective: The study seeks identification of alternative crops to tobacco according to climate and type of soils, and undertaking sensitization program for farmers in order to make them aware of the problems associated with tobacco farming and assist them in the shift to production of other crops.
Methodology: The study examines the implications of tobacco farming on forestry cover change through determining the number of trees cut to cure tobacco, the number of seedlings planted to replace them and how many seedlings overcome the transplant shock annually. The means of the various stated variables was compared, and it was observed that few tree seedlings survive the transplant shock compared to number of trees cut and also the number planted.
Farmers’ awareness on tobacco farming and deforestation was also determined by comparing the responses on deforestation and its related effects.
Result: Those who gave positive responses on deforestation were fewer than those who gave negative responses on the same issue. The study indicates that tobacco farming contributes to deforestation and has greatly destroyed the rolling hills once existed in the region A number of indigenous species, among them Olea capensis, Poloscias kikuyensis among others have been extensively cut for constructing tobacco curing kilns as well as fuel. What currently exists in the area is the exotic eucalyptus.
Conclusion: It was observed that farmers are not aware of the harmful effects of deforestation on the environment.
Recommendations: Farmers can adopt the use of coal fired kilns which require electricity to circulate heat to cure the crop.

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