Economy

Traders boycott miraa exports to Mogadishu

miraa

A 100kg sack of miraa is now selling at Sh160,000 up from about Sh20,000. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Miraa exporters supplying the Mogadishu market on Tuesday started a boycott on the trade citing high farm gate prices.

Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) chairman Kimathi Munjuri said the traders resolved to boycott buying the twigs to pressure farmers to lower the prices.

Mr Munjuri said a 100kg sack of miraa is now selling at Sh160,000 up from about Sh20,000 during the rainy season. This means a kilo of medium quality khat is selling at Sh1,600.

The high prices are due to low supply caused by the dry spell that started early December.

“Only traders serving other parts of Somalia shipped their commodity on Monday night. Traders who export to Mogadishu feel that it is not sustainable to buy 100kg at Sh160,000,” Mr Munjuri said.