Gujarat lung cancer cases rise as tobacco cultivation expands despite Centre’s diversification push

Gujarat, India’s largest tobacco-producing state, has reported a steady increase in lung cancer registrations, with the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute recording 4,830 patients between 2021 and 2025.
| Photo Credit:
CLAUDIA DAUT

The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (GCRI) registered 4,830 lung cancer patients between 2021 and 2025, with annual cases rising from 813 in 2021 to 1,133 in 2025. The data, released on World Lung Cancer Day by the Gujarat government, shows that of the total cases, about 3,900 patients, or 81.4 per cent, were men, while women accounted for 899 cases, or 18.6 per cent.

Tobacco cultivation expands despite diversification push

The rise in registrations comes alongside Gujarat’s growing tobacco footprint. The third advance estimates for FY26 from the Gujarat agricultural department show that the tobacco cultivation in the state has increased by around 10% in both area and production compared with FY23. Gujarat cultivated tobacco across 2.13 lakh hectares in FY26, producing around 4.91 lakh tonnes. The state accounted for nearly 45 per cent of India’s total tobacco output in FY25, according to data tabled in Parliament.

While the increase in tobacco cultivation and lung cancer registrations represent different datasets and time periods, the trends come against the backdrop of continued policy efforts to reduce dependence on tobacco farming. The Centre has been implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (Tobacco Replacement) under the Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) since 2015-16 across 10 tobacco-growing states, including Gujarat.

Limited fund utilisation under Centre’s programme

Parliament data shows the Centre allocated Rs 53.1 crore for the programme during FY21-FY25. However, only Rs 18.56 crore was released to states, while utilisation stood at Rs 9.88 crore. Gujarat, along with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, was among the states receiving the highest allocations under the programme.

Tobacco remains a leading preventable risk factor

GCRI, an autonomous institute jointly managed by the Gujarat government and Gujarat Cancer Society and affiliated with B J Medical College, said tobacco consumption remains one of the leading preventable risk factors for lung cancer. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates cited by the state government, India records more than 1.12 lakh new lung cancer cases and over 98,000 deaths every year.

Published on August 1, 2026