The school of law at the University of Embu has launched major campaigns to equip local Miraa farmers on the legal intricacies involving the farming of the crop classified a pillar to the County’s economy.
Under a chain of various legal aid clinics, resource persons drawn from the institutions now vibrant school of law, farmers have been receiving crucial knowledge aimed at ensuring they complied existing regulations.
The knowledge and skills authorities at the UoE have said will ensure the fostering of harmonious relationship between the farmers and government and hence ensure the sustainable growth of the Miraa industry.
Most of the training forums have been taking place at the university’s moot court and have seen active participation of farmers from various regions, including Evurore, Mbeere, Gachoka, Kagache, Rifa, Kithimu, and Kutherema Miraa Saccos.
‘The primary objective of the Legal Aid Clinics has been to enlighten Miraa farmers on the legal intricacies involved in Miraa farming.’, said the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Research, and Extension, Prof. Kiplagat Kotut during one of the forums.
Prof. Kotut underscored the University’s commitment to extending knowledge to the local community, empowering farmers to operate efficiently within the legal framework.
The VC advised the farmers to embrace and understand the legal aspects governing their trade, emphasising the importance of compliance to avoid conflicts with regulatory authorities.
The chairman Chairperson of the Mbeere Embu Miraa Farmers’ Cooperative Union, Mr. Jervasious Nyobyekothe thanked the UoE for its decision to recognize the legal needs of the farmers and offer them legal education which he said sometimes remained a preserve of the legal fraternity.
He also conveyed the farmers’ readiness to continue learning and to always comply with legal requirements guiding the farming and trade in the crop especially in the wake of recent attempts by some Counties to ban its trade.
‘I hereby wish to laud the University for organising the learning sessions and highlighting the promising future of Miraa growing in Embu County’ said Mr. Nyobyekothe
He also stressed the need for proper mentorship to scale up Miraa growing, for the benefit of the community.
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Since the launch of the forum participants have been treated to a series of informative sessions led by School of Law students among the Mr. Moses Pascal and Mr. Gideon Kipkorir who normally take the farmers through the laws and policies that affect Miraa farming in Kenya.
Farmers have been also been taken through laws related to the Crops Act, the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, and the Anti-Counterfeit Act.
Farmers are taught on laws on their rights and responsibilities, why they should always comply with them but also to understand the economic aspects of Miraa farming, such as the market demand and supply, the price fluctuations, the value chain, the taxation, and the export opportunities.
One farmer who has attended a cross section of the forums Mr Joseph Mbogo expressed satisfaction at having learned tips on how to improve the quality and quantity of Miraa production and how to access credit and insurance services.
He confessed that he also found session on the health and social effects of Miraa farming, both positive and negative key in ensuring that farmers avoided use of some pesticides and fungicides, some which could affect the users.
Farmers were surprised that they were also legally required to comply with the stipulated agricultural laws by seeking to be licenced and acquire needed permits to run Miraa nurseries’.
‘I was not aware of requirements for registration of Miraa nurseries, the issuance of Miraa dealer licenses, the inspection and certification of Miraa products, and the transportation and export permits but now I know’, said another farmers Joseph Njue.
Delayed acquisition of some licences farmers have learned through the legal aid clinics could lead to penalties and fines.
Issues to do with transport of the Miraa were also covered and farmers and transporters reminded to always be cautious about the stipulated traffic rules and regulations, speed limits, vehicle inspection, driver licensing, insurance, and general road safety.
By Robert Nyagah
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