This archive report was first published on 14 July 2021.
On July 14, 2021, the County Government of Meru took a significant step to support Miraa farmers by allocating Sh5 million to Nyambene Miraa Sacco.
The loan, which will be disbursed to over 3,800 members across Igembe and Tigania regions, aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the Miraa market in Somalia.
Deputy Governor Ntuchiu explained that the move is part of the County Government's efforts to cushion Miraa farmers from the adverse effects of the pandemic and market closure.
As part of the initiative, officers from Meru Microfinance will be dispatched to Muriri, Mikinduri, Maua, and Laare markets to educate members on financial literacy and discipline.
The team will also conduct capacity building to enable members to access other financial facilities offered by the County government, including SME loans.
The SME loans will be provided through the Meru County Post-COVID-19 Recovery Strategy for SMEs, which was recently launched by the County government.
Deputy Governor Ntuchiu emphasized that the County government is working closely with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the National Government to address challenges in the Miraa market.
Efforts are underway to explore new markets in countries such as Djibouti and Mozambique, and the County government is also organizing the Meru County Miraa Conference to engage authorities and stakeholders in the Miraa industry.
