3 min read
Tobacco and Water: The Hidden Hydrology of a Thirsty Crop
Tobacco is a water-intensive crop—consuming more water per hectare than many food crops. In water-scarce regions, tobacco competes with food for a limited resource. The water dimension of tobacco is underappreciated and underresearched.
Tobacco requires 2,000-3,000 mm of water per growing season—more than maize or soybeans. In water-scarce regions like Malawi and Zimbabwe, tobacco irrigation competes with food crops and drinking water. **The water dimension of tobacco is a hidden environmental cost. The crop that kills through consumption also stresses through production—depleting the water resources that communities depend on for survival.**
