Miraa farmers, traders and consumers have expressed anger with Kenyan authorities for failing to lobby the Dutch government to reverse a decision to ban it despite a one year window before the effective date. The ban was effected as scheduled on January 5.
Traders and farmers of the stimulant in Meru, where it is the main source of income, say they are worried that the Netherlands' ban could spread to other markets, adversely affecting them.
“The first step towards salvaging the crop is having it classified under the cash crop category in the Agricultural Act and remove it from the horticultural category,” said Florence Kajuju, a miraa trader from Tigania East.
According to Miraa exporter Dan Aritho from Nyambene, the region is expected to generate more than 60 per cent of the Meru County income, 80 per cent of this generated by miraa business.
