Committee rules out 'free' Sh1 billion for miraa farmers

There will be no "free" money to be dished out to miraa farmers as widely expected, a committee has said.

Miraa Task Force Implementation Committee Chairman Kello Harsama said contrary to claims farmers will be given part of the Sh1 billion for free, the funds are meant for specific programmes and each shilling must be accounted for.

The funds were allocated to help uplift the sector after a report stated that the crop faces serious challenges following a ban in major European markets including the Netherlands and UK.

KITTY SET ASIDE

“We don’t have money to give out to individuals in the villages, but we will undertake programmes according to the needs of the farmer and improve the crop,” said Mr Harsama, who is also the secretary of administration at the Agriculture ministry's State Department of Crops Development.

However, a kitty will be set aside to “redeem” farms which had been hired by middlemen, holding owners hostage in a private arrangement that allows traders to pay some money to farmers so that they can harvest the crop.

Thousands of farmers have however been exploited in this manner since they are paid peanuts as traders make a killing. “We understand there are farmers whose crop has been held hostage for some reason and some money will be set aside to support them to recover their crop,” he said while speaking when the committee paid a courtesy call on Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi in its first meeting with stakeholders.

Mr Murungi expressed concern that some politicians had dragged him into politics surrounding release of the cash, and asked the committee to clarify the matter.

INTEREST CHARGED

Mr Harsama explained that the county did not have a say on how the Sh1 billion would be spent, adding that the money was under the ministry's care. “Any expenditure in this kitty has a vote and there is nowhere the county comes in. Let me assure miraa farmers that we will spend the money to help them improve the crop,” he said.

“We have also heard people say some money will be used to buy macadamia and avocado seedlings, but that is not true. Not even a shilling will be used to diversify into other crops,” he said.

At the same time, regulations are being worked on to ensure that farmers access the money through cooperative societies, said Nyambene Miraa Traders Association Chairman Kimathi Munjuri, who is a member of the committee.

“We are coming up with specific criteria that will determine how much interest will be charged, but it will be minimal to the level that farmers will not feel it because these will not be commercial loans,” he said.

According to a schedule released by the ministry, the committee will meet local leaders and county administrators in Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi between October 15 and 27.