Miraa farmers in row over Sh906 million

A miraa farmers association has petitioned Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to reconstitute the miraa task force implementation committee to include their representative.

Meru Miraa Farmers and Traders Association (MEMIFATRA) said it was not pleased with the committee's proposals on the use of Sh906 million granted by the national government.

Spokesman James Mithika said they want to know how the name of one of their members missed from the gazetted committee, despite being informed on the intention to form it.

"If we had a representative in the committee, we would not be protesting the proposals as he would present the views of our association before the final decision was made," said Mithika.

“We don’t want to keep on protesting every time and this is the reason we want the minister to consider having one of ours in the implementation committee."

He said this was a fight they were not ready to relent on for the sake of benefiting the local miraa farmer.

“We have been registered by the relevant ministry as a sacco and we have procedures on how to give out loans to members as well as the repayment structure,” said Mithika.

The association wants the money given to the sacco for disbursement to farmers in the form of loans.

Mr Mithika said they will not buy the idea of setting aside Sh30 million for digging of terraces and construction of gabions in miraa farms since this was the function of the Meru County government.

He said this was a job supposed to be done by contractors making roads in all the areas in the county.

About Sh12 million was proposed to be used in growing of avocado and macadamia, which the sacco members opposed, saying the county government should support the initiative as it has always done.