World no Tobbaco Day is commemorated on 31 May to draw attention of the world to the negative implications that are caused by Tobacco.

Research shows that 8 million die due to tobacco usage globally every year. 

This year's theme is: We Need Food Not Tobacco. The celebrations were held in Migori county where residents have been involved in tobacco farming as their main cash crop.

Migori residents have been reluctant to embrace production of other crops revealing that tobacco farming has been the their main source of income for generations.

Medical experts have warned that tobacco has numerous effects on the human health including heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, stroke and other ailments.

World Health Organization Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the health of farmers and health workers is important.

He called on Governments to end tobacco growing subsidies and use the savings to support farmers to switch to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition.

WHO revealed that more than 3 million hectares of land in over 130 countries are used to grow tobacco while more that 300 million people globally are faced with acute food insecurity.

A tobacco farmer may absorb nicotine equivalent to 50 cigarettes a day during the production.

Mr. Tedros urged farmers to use their land to grow food crops which are more sustainable and healthy.