State warns ‘miraa’ farmers against engaging child labour

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi (centre) with other leaders at a miraa farm in Muchonoke area of Mbeere North district in Embu County, yesterday.  [PHOTO: JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD]

By JOSEPH MUCHIRI

Embu County: The Government has urged miraa farmers to ensure no child works on khat farms if the crop is to be classified as a cash crop.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi said the Government was willing to work closely with miraa farmers and pass laws that would regulate farming and trading only if they complied with labour laws.

Speaking at Muchonoke area in Mbeere North District while collecting views from miraa farmers for presentation in Parliament, Kambi asked residents to assist law enforcers to arrest people who allow children to work on the farms.

“Do not let children on miraa farms if Parliament is to streamline farming. If money from the crop is used to educate children, build good roads and bring water to the area, then it is a good crop,” he said.

Bring drugs

He allayed farmers’ fears that the crop would be banned. “In Coast, coconut gives mnazi beer. The late Karisa Maitha fought until it was legalised. Every plant should be seen to benefit the people,” Kambi said.

The cabinet secretary asked the farmers to invest in consolidating the miraa market so that brokers can buy in one spot, resulting in better prices.

He also asked the county government to facilitate irrigation of miraa farms and build storage facilities to prevent post-harvest losses.

At the same time, Kambi asked miraa farmers to work with the police to ensure middlemen do not bring illegal drugs into the area.

Embu County Assembly Budget Chairman and Mavuria Ward Representative Mwaniki Nyaga said khat farming has created numerous jobs in the area so it should be recognised as a major cash crop. “The turn over from miraa farming is Sh30 million in Mbeere alone,” Nyaga said.

He added that the county assembly had set aside Sh7 million to fight drugs and educate people not to spend their miraa earnings on drugs and alcohol.

Nthawa Ward Representative Ngari Makenge said most miraa growing areas are arid and semi-arid and not suitable for food crop farming, hence the attraction to the crop.