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Linturi dispatches team to combat worms destroying miraa farms in Meru

Miraa farmers from Meru have called for the review of the crop's classification as a drug

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by Magdalene Saya

News22 April 2023 - 09:14
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In Summary


  • •He has sent a team of researchers from the ministry and those in crop rotation to ensure the issue is sorted
  • •He further noted that he has signed new regulations on miraa which have since been sent to Parliament
Miraa on sale in Lamu island.

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has moved to save miraa farmers in Meru from worms that are destroying the crops.

Linturi on Saturday said he has sent a team of researchers from the ministry and those in crop rotation to ensure the issue is sorted.

He spoke in Meru when he accompanied President William Ruto on a development tour in Meru.

“There is a disease and a problem of worms eating miraa here but when I got the information recently we sent researchers from our office and crop rotation, the insecticides are here and they are on their way, therefore, the work is done,” Linturi said.

The CS further noted that he has signed new regulations on miraa which have since been sent to Parliament.

“So it the work of the committee on delegated legislation to agree with us on how we will improve miraa farming and come up with new regulations that will deal with the issues of miraa,” Linturi said.

Miraa farmers from Meru have called for the review of the crop's classification as a drug to attract more markets outside the country.

Miraa Growers and Traders Cooperative Union said classifying the crop as a drug hinders it from gaining access to international markets.

Nacada still refers to miraa as a drug, a move the farmers say prompted similar classification in other countries.

These include the United Kingdom, Netherlands among other major international markets that barred the use and sale of the substance.


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