An anonymous source told Addis Standard that farmers and traders under the Biftu Baha Oromia Association are being taken out of the market due to pressure from illegal traders, supported by people in government structures."From the very beginning, farmers are not benefiting from the khat business. Now, organized farmers who have entered the khat trade are facing various pressures.
Kebede [name changed for security concern], a trader and member of the Biftu Baha Oromia association, told Addis Standard,"The khat trade is the basis of livelihood of millions of people in Hararghe but the farmers have not benefited from its production, as it has been controlled by military generals for many years. At that time, the demand raised by the people was to become the owner of the khat trade.
"Yet they sell 1.2 kilograms of khat for fifteen dollars and report to the government as they sold it for five dollars and the rest goes out of the country illegally. We have been announcing that this will also harm the government. When the government increased the price to $10, they pressured the khat production to be smuggled out of the country to Somalia and Djibouti illegally and forced it to be sold back at five dollars.
South Africa South Africa Latest News, South Africa South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »