AFA director-general Alfred Busolo. PHOTO | File
The agriculture regulator has announced plans to start
controlling miraa prices at the farm gate, signalling a boost to farmers
whose earnings have been squeezed by middlemen.
Agriculture
and Food Authority (AFA) director-general Alfred Busolo said the agency
will tomorrow (Saturday) open an office in Maua that will, among other
things, monitor prices of the stimulant.
Agriculture secretary Willy Bett will open the Meru office.
This
is the latest attempt to make miraa a mainstream cash crop, years after
a majority of the European Union countries, US and Canada banned the
use of the stimulant after reclassifying it as a controlled drug —
denying it a huge market.
“We now want to set a
recommended minimum price for miraa just as we have done with sugarcane.
You will realise the price that farmers are getting for their crop
could not be commensurate with the quantities bought from them,” said Mr
Busolo.
Like in the sugar sector, dealers offering
prices below the set prices risk jail and penalties — which will be
announced through a legal notice.
Miraa was included in
the list of cash crops to be recognised officially last year in May,
giving the national government the mandate of creating regulations
including guidelines on marketing.
Export
Mr
Busolo said they are also working on plans to have miraa exported
through Isiolo airport other than having to come all the way to Wilson
Airport, to avoid cases of fatalities associated with the speeding
vehicles ferrying this perishable commodity.
The Maua office will be headed by a manager who will be responsible for the day- to- day welfare of the farmers in the region.
The
AFA is currently scouting for new market for miraa farmers after key
buyers banned the export of the stimulant to their country, affecting
the earnings of hundreds of farmers who rely on the crop for income.
In 2012, the Netherlands, which was the biggest foreign market for miraa banned its sale prompting outcry from Kenyan traders.
The
UK was also a major market for Kenya’s stimulant before banning it.
Kenya used to export about 20 tonnes of miraa weekly valued at an
estimated Sh1.4 million.
The local market consumes more than 60 tonnes weekly.
Taskforce
The
presidential taskforce on miraa, which was appointed on June last year
by President Uhuru Kenyatta, was expected to give a report by October
last year but had its term was extended to enable them complete its
work.
In
consultation with farmers, traders and relevant stakeholders, the team
is supposed to suggest ways to ensure recovery of lost markets and
search for new markets for miraa produce.
Other tasks of the taskforce include research on miraa agronomy, variety improvement, product development and value addition.
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