President Muse Bihi Abdi’s administration has granted permission to a Chinese firm to grow castor bean seeds in Wajaale Plains.
African Agricultural Development has been granted the rights to start growing castor bean seeds in the region.
Wajaale Plains is one of Somaliland’s most fertile lands.
The Chinese firm is expected to grow the crop, which is renowned for its richness in ricin, a highly sought after commodity.
However, the deal is expected to face several challenges because the locals were never consulted or asked to share their views.
According to botanists, ricin is 6,000 times more likely to kill you than cyanide.
It is also 12,000 times more poisonous than the venom from a rattlesnake.
Nevertheless, the popularity of castor bean seeds has continued to skyrocket in recent years with farmers planting and harvesting millions of tons of the crop.
Multiple sources indicated that the Bihi administration gave the Chinese farm title to farm on a 2,000ha worth of land at Wajaale Plains.