The county has partnered with Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) to train miraa farmers and guide them on the proper use of chemicals./FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 16- Embu county government has formulated new measures that will boost the production and consumption of miraa in Kenya.
The county has partnered with Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) to train miraa farmers and guide them on the proper use of chemicals.
County Executive Committee member Annie Nyaga says the new procedures will form part of a broader policy that will address adverse effects affecting the miraa business.
“We need to figure out how we can help this sector grow and even perform better, as such the training will help in knowing better ways to support this sector,” she said.
In order to achieve this, the county has also commenced the construction of five earth dams and seven market sheds to support miraa farmers as part of the implementation of the Miraa task force appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year.
The project being undertaken by the county and national governments include the construction of earth dams in Kamugushu in Mbeti South, Nyuari in Mavuria. Gitumbiri in Nthawa and Kiangithi in Europe and Murindi in Mavuria.
The funds have been drawn from the Sh167 million allocated to Embu County under the ministry of Agriculture to support miraa farmers in the county.
“I am confident the earth dams will provide adequate water for irrigation as well as the hygienic trading environment for both buyers and sellers of Miraa,” Nyaga said.
Last week, the national task force and ministry of agriculture officials conducted an inspection tour of the projects in Embu and expressed satisfaction on their progress.
Already, the Miraa task force has toured Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Djibouti in a market expansion drive.
