A vehicle transporting miraa. A team has been set up to spearhead the
development of miraa (khat) business. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A team has been set up to spearhead the development of miraa
(khat) business. The initiative will be a welcome plan by miraa farmers,
who have been asking for recognition and protection of the crop.
Acting
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed appointed the 10-member
team, which has been tasked with proposing strategies that will support
development of the miraa industry, specifically, lobbying for recovery
of the lost market.
To be chaired by Mr Joseph
Mwereria, the team will be expected to undertake research on miraa
agronomy, variety improvement, product development and value addition.
It is also expected to develop policy and legislation on the industry in
collaboration with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority.
The
task force will be required to prepare and submit its work plan to the
minister and regularly provide the progress reports on the areas of
assignment every three months. The final report should be submitted to
the CS within a year.
LOBBYING BY MPs
The
task force could be as a result of lobbying by MPs from miraa growing
areas. The MPs have been calling for formation of a parliamentary select
committee to look into the miraa health debate. They have demanded that
a study be conducted by the government to determine the effects of
miraa on people’s health.
Most of the MPs from Meru
County, which is Kenya’s main miraa growing region, said most of the
negative reports associated with miraa are based on myths.
Led
by Mr Mithika Linturi, the MPs said only a professional study
commissioned by the government will give the factual findings on the
actual effects of using miraa.
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