Kenyan miraa farmers have a reason to worry following the signing of a new trade deal between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Somalia offers the Kenyan farmers one of the largest and easily accessible markets for their miraa, or khat.
A recent trade agreement that Somalia signed with Ethiopia allows the latter’s farmers to access Somali khat market exclusively for 10 days every month.
Consequently, such an arrangement is likely to lead to reduced revenues for the Kenyan farmers.
Kimathi Munjuri, the Chairman of the Nyambene Miraa Trade Association (Nyamita), said that Mogadishu had sent a fresh set of instructions on this matter.
As from August 11, cargo airplanes from Nairobi would not transport miraa to Mogadishu.
Ethiopia had complained of the dominance of miraa trade in Somalia by Kenyan farmers.
According to Ethiopia, Kenya enjoys dominance since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud lifted the ban on Kenyan miraa last year.