The Departmental Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries today undertook Public Hearings from Muguuka farmers and traders in Mbeere South, Mbeere North, and Runyenyes Constituencies in Embu County, in a bid to establish and understand the plight of the players in the industry.
The Sub-Committee delegation that is led by Vice Chairperson, Hon Catherine Waruguru (Woman Representative, Laikipia County), conducted a series of meetings that saw farmers and traders of muguuka in the region, demand for the recognization and registration of the plant as a cash crop.
They also sought the amendment of the exiating Crops Act in this regard, with an aim to regularize its trade just like miraa.
The farmers highlighted the challenges that they face with muguuka farming, among them water shortage, pests infestation, high cost of agrochemicals, inconsistency in pricing, exploitation by market regulators, inaccessibility to services like sacco registration, lack of ready markets and lack of a research centre to generate ideas on improving the product quality.
The farmers urged the Committee to ensure that the Embu region gets its own research institute, as opposed to having to rely on the one based in Meru County.
The Research Centre, if established, is also expected to help in the management of the crop diseases and pests, which currently poses a major challenge to the farmers.
The Legislators, also urged the farmers and sellers of muguka to ways of enhancing value addition to the crop so as to meet the standards of the export market as is the case with Miraa.
The Members also raised concerns with the safety and speedy transportation of the product and called on the farmers to find safer ways of packaging and transporting their products.
Over the years many accidents along the Embu-Meru road have been attributed to drivers transporting muguka and miraa.
Before conducting the Public hearings, the sub-committee paid a courtesy call on the Embu County Commissioner, Mr. Abdulahi Galgalo.
- The Members of the Sub-Committee present were:-
- Hon Catherine Waruguru- Vice Chair, MP, Laikipia County
- Hon Majimbo Kalasinga- MP, Kabuchai
- Hon Joyce Kameme- Woman Representative, Machakos County
- Hon Geoffery Odanga- MP, MatayosHon Cecily Mbarire- Nominated
- Hon Geoffery King’ang’i- MP, Mbeere SouthHon Eric Muchangi – MP, Runyenjes
The Sub-Committee is scheduled to hold meetings with Miraa farmers and hold other Public Petition hearings in Meru County tomorrow and Thursday.
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