The government has consolidated data from the Agriculture and Food Authority, Kentrade and the Kenya Revenue Authority under the single window system to promote transparency and accuracy of information especially on the country’s food exports.
Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe, while responding to queries over inconsistencies in reported export volumes for Miraa crop which he blamed on market-driven fluctuations in orders, cargo space availability and produce supply, clarified that Kenya’s daily Miraa exports to Somalia ranged between 13-17 tonnes and not 40 tonnes as reported across some platforms.
Data from regulatory body (AFA) show that Kenya has exported over 17 million kilogrammes of miraa to Somalia since July 2022, when the market was reopened after a two-year ban that saw farmers suffer up to Ksh 16 millions in losses daily.
The Ministry, Kagwe said, had introduced submission of airway bills and flight manifests and KEPHIS inspections for all export consignments and deployed AFA crop inspectors at export warehouses to strengthen data integrity and safeguard government revenue.
“We have also introduced monthly export reporting by airlines to Kenya Airports Authority and are also exploring alternative export routes to promote Miraa business,” he said.
Part of the measures by the state to facilitate expansion of the market include working closely with the Somalia government in opening additional landing ports there, road exports through northern corridors and supporting direct Miraa cargo flights from Isiolo to Manda Island.
There’s however a drawback in realization of the latter due to delayed expansion of the 1.4 kilometre runway at Isiolo International airport to support cargo planes.
The scheduled crop is primarily grown in Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi by over 110, 000 farmers on 360, 940 acres, supporting over 1.4 million livelihoods and injecting at least Ksh13 billion in the economy annually.
The Ministry has supported irrigation, construction of market sheds, sinking of boreholes and earth dams across Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties to support Miraa farming.
A total of KShs 220 million in seed capital has been injected into Miraa cooperatives according to CS Kagwe.
He said the government had collected KShs 67.9 million in miraa levies since 2023, resources being pumped into research, market access and infrastructure development.
“We remain fully committed to unlocking new export markets for our farmers,” he assured.
Meanwhile, a section of Miraa farmers want the Kenya Bureau of Standards to establish quality controls to facilitate expansion of the trade to countries beyond Somalia.
“The government should enhance diplomatic ties with Somalia and other countries to help in opening up new markets. Export costs and airport charges should also be revised downwards,” David Mutuma, a Miraa farmer from Kangeta in Meru County shared.
