Somalia has allowed Kenya to more than double the volumes of miraa exported to the country, expanding opportunities for local farmers.
The exports, which have now increased to 50 tonnes daily, had been capped at a maximum of 19 tonnes a day by Mogadishu when the trade between the two countries resumed last year in July after bilateral talks between Kenya and Somali presidents resolved a long-standing trade tiff.
The move came as a boost to many traders who had to seek alternative markets for their produce.
Head of Miraa Pyrethrum and other Industrial Crops Felix Mutwiri said the exports have been ramped up from the daily 19 tonnes when the market resumed.
“So far we are allowed to ship at least 50 tonnes of miraa a day to Mogadishu,” said Mr Mutwiri.
Traders had raised concerns that the allocated quota by the Somali government was limiting them from exploring the full potential of the market.
A kilogramme of the commodity in Somali is now going for $23, which is lower than the $25 that it fetched before the market was closed.
By October last year, Kenya had earned at least KES 4 billion from the sale of miraa to Somalia after exporting at least 1.2 million kilogrammes of the commodity.
Read also; Kenya’s Miraa Exports to Somalia Hits KES 4 Billion in 3 Months.
