Alexander Mwenda is cutting down his three-acre miraa trees because of the high levies charged on the crop before it reaches the market.
He said he has been farming miraa for the last 20 years but he has opted to plant other crops in his farm due to the low returns.
“Initially, I used to harvest miraa worth more than Sh50,000. We had hoped that this government would intervene and make us smile all the way to the bank. This sector has been infiltrated by cartels who control the market leaving the farmer with peanuts,” Mwenda said.
Many Nyambene residents, who have been depending on miraa, have now abandoned it and ventured into more lucrative crops.
Mwenda said he was forced to move his children from private schools to public ones as he could no longer afford school fees at the private institutions.
Miraa Growers and Traders Association chairman Moses Lichoro said the high taxes and levies charged on miraa in Kenya and Somalia have pushed farmers to the wall.
“By the time a kilo of miraa, which is preferred in the Somalia market reaches the consumer in Mogadishu, a trader has to part with charges and levies totalling Sh1,928. I ask the two governments to reconsider these levies,” Lichoro said.
These include Sh569.20 (USD4) for handling and shipping charges, Sh7 in government export levy and permit fee, Sh640.35 in commission for faceless cartels, and another Sh711.50 (USD5) in import duty, and cargo handling charges.