Objective: To analyze the challenges and potentialities for the development and implementation of local public policies that focus on the relationship between the use of pesticides, the health of the rural population and the environment in tobacco producing municipalities in southern Brazil.
Methods: Qualitative case study research conducted at three major tobacco producing municipalities, by means of semi-structured interviews with seven actors involved with municipal healthcare. Data were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: The studied issues are not among the priorities for the local public policy. However, municipalities have introduced initiatives involving actions on the use of pesticides that are articulated with contining education and intersectoral action.
Conclusions: Actions to protect the health of farmers must be combined with sustainable development, which would also help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).