File | Nation Miraa farmers. Analysts have been puzzled by the ban, given that the Dutch government tolerates the use of cannabis (bhang) and ecstasy, which are relatively more harmful.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
In a statement on Tuesday, the Dutch government announced the ban, citing health and social issues.
“If taken in moderation, there are no major problems, but an investigation showed it to be problematic among some 10 per cent of khat users,” read a report used to inform the ban.
The ban comes at time when the sector is suffering disruptions in supply to Somalia, its key market, after the government launched a military offensive to root out the Al-Shabab terror group in the country.
Miraa is one of Kenya’s biggest fresh produce exports, earning an estimated Sh16.2 billion annually.
Until now, the Netherlands has been the second largest European importer of Kenyan miraa after the United Kingdom.
According to the Nyambene Miraa Trade Association (Nyamati), 20 tonnes of khat are exported to The Netherlands weekly, netting an estimated Sh26 million.
“This was one of our biggest markets. We don’t know what to do now,” said Nyamati spokesperson Kimathi Munjuri.
He said farmers from lower Maua would suffer the brunt of the embargo since they had specialised in growing a specific grade of the crop for the Dutch markets.
“The quality of miraa we take to Europe is not the same as the one we take to Somalia, or the ones sold locally.
“If it is rerouted to these other markets, it will fetch only a fraction of the price,” he said.
The subsequent flood of miraa in the local market will lead to lower prices and harm farmers and traders.
Analysts have been puzzled by the Dutch government’s move, given that it tolerates the use of cannabis (bhang) and ecstasy, with speculation that it might have less to do with health, and more to do with security.
The United Nations Resolution 1558(2004) identified miraa as a possible source of funds to purchase arms by Somali warlords.
“Choking off the flow of finances to Somali militants could be the real motivation behind the ban,” said Mr Emmanuel Kisiangani, a senior researcher at the Institute of Security Studies.This would be the latest effort to undercut the militants financially, after American banks recently stopped remittance flow to Somalia through the Hawala money transfer system.