Farmers want miraa declassified as a drùg

Miraa farmers and traders in Nyambene region of Meru county want the government to move swiftly in reviewing the classification of the crop as a drug in order to fetch more markets outside the country.

Through their union, Miraa growers and traders’ cooperative union, the farmers said this was the only remaining stumbling block in accessing international markets for the crop also known as Khat.

  The union’s chairman Moses Lichoro thanked President William Ruto for expressing his concern about the crop’s business but said this should start with declassifying it as a drug as it stands at the moment.

International markets

Lichoro added that the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) still refers to miraa as a drug, a move that prompted a similar move by other countries including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands among other major international markets that barred the use and sale of the substance.

 “We know the President is a busy man and we are therefore calling on our political leaders from this county to make a follow-up and ensure a review of the crop’s classification. The ‘hard drug’ label it bears at the moment is not supported by any scientific evidence,” said Lichoro.