When Tobacco Becomes Poison
The price of tobacco has plummeted in 2002 compared to previous years. It is a difficult time for farmers and even cigarette manufacturers have to be careful.
September 17, 2002
IT is almost twilight in the village of Sambirampak Lor in the Kota Anyar district, near Probolinggo, East Java. You can see the reds and yellows of the setting sun over the trees. It is very peaceful. There's a light breeze that brings with it the very special aroma of cut tobacco leaves. This comes from rows of woven bamboo structures, each measuring 3 x 1 meters, which stand at 45 degrees from the horizontal, on both sides of the road.
In
...