Meru: Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia has urged miraa farmers to join cooperative societies to strengthen their bargaining power and improve marketing of the crop as leaders push for revival of the sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a church service at Kathatene Methodist Church in Antobetwe Kiongo Ward, Igembe North Constituency, Governor Mutuma highlighted the economic hardships miraa farmers face despite their heavy investments in the crop. He emphasized that joining cooperative societies could help farmers access better markets, achieve better prices, and enhance value addition initiatives to increase earnings from miraa products.
Mutuma expressed confidence in the joint efforts of the county leadership, national government, and other stakeholders to address the longstanding challenges affecting the miraa sector, aiming to improve the livelihoods of farmers across the region.
Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi noted that the Senate had already passed the second reading of a Bill to remove miraa from the list of drugs regulated by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). This proposed legal change could open new avenues for value addition, such as the production of miraa juice, wine, and other flavored products, thereby creating additional income opportunities for farmers.
The two leaders also addressed ongoing challenges within the miraa market, including the closure of the Somalia market and allegations of poor sector management. They criticized former Agriculture Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya and Mithika Linturi for their alleged contributions to the collapse of the miraa market, citing weak regulations and cartels that negatively impacted key export markets like Somalia.
A miraa businessman, Jacob Mantili, called for investigations into the alleged mismanagement of funds intended for miraa development. Meanwhile, some leaders urged residents to support the ongoing efforts to revive the sector and restore farmers’ incomes.
