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.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service at Kathatene Methodist Church in Antobetwe Kiongo Ward, Igembe North Constituency, Governor Mutuma said miraa farmers have continued to face economic hardships despite investing heavily in the crop.
The Governor said cooperative societies would help farmers to access better markets and thus better prices besides enhancing value addition initiatives aimed at increasing earnings from miraa products.
Mutuma expressed confidence that the county leadership, jointly with the national government and other stakeholders, would address the long-standing challenges affecting the miraa sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the region.
Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi said the Senate had already passed the second reading of a Bill seeking to remove miraa from the list of drugs regulated by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
He said the proposed legal changes would pave the way for value addition through the production of miraa juice, wine and other flavoured products, creating more income opportunities for farmers.
The two leaders also raised concerns over challenges that have affected the miraa market over the years, including the closure of the Somalia market and allegations of poor management of the sector.
They also accused former Agriculture Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya and Mithika Linturi of contributing to the collapse of the miraa market, citing weak regulations and cartels which they claimed affected key export markets such as Somalia.
A miraa businessman, Jacob Mantili, called for investigations into the alleged loss of funds meant for miraa development, while some leaders urged residents to support ongoing efforts aimed at reviving the sector and restoring farmers’ incomes.
By Kamanja Maeria
