growers

NAIROBI, Kenya - In the bustling fields of central Kenya, where the sun casts long shadows over the lush green leaves of Khat, farmers halt their weary hands. This halt, however, is not for rest, but a cry for justice in the twisted mechanisms of commerce that link their fields to Somalia. Why, you might ask, would a thriving community decide to stop exporting their produce? It's a complex weave of economics and ethics, a tale that echoes powerfully in today's market-driven world. The quintessential Khat plant,…

Certainly, let's delve into the intricate tapestry of this issue with a more nuanced, professional tone. --- As the sun rose over the verdant landscape of central Kenya, painting ethereal hues on the horizon, thoughts weighed heavily on the mind of Jackson Karuiru. A man seasoned by the struggles of agriculture, Karuiru, the chairman of the Kenyan Khat Farmers Association, finds himself at the crossroads between tradition and the unforgiving march of modern economics. “How can we carry on under these circumstances,” he…

Starting in July 2022, as described by farmers, a shadowy cartel emerged following a handshake agreement between Kenya's then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This deal marked the end of a chilling two-year miraa export ban. Under its terms, shipments resumed, but with a devil's catch—unrecorded, ‘under-the-table’ fees said to be tacitly approved by high-ranking honchos from both nations. Farmers are in a pickle. They’ve been thrown into a financial quagmire, already grappling with…

In the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 5,000 farmers in the city of Bunkeya, almost 200 km from Lubumbashi, would like to see their production double or triple and thus allow the country to reduce its rice imports. They are now grouped in a cooperative society that intends to promote a mechanized culture.…