Before beginnings of 21st century, only limited amount of khat was chewed in ethiopia for socialization and religious purpose. Khat export negatively impacted by ethnic conflict between oromo and somali regions of ethiopia says government communication minister. Khat chewing is a public health concern in ethiopia. Most often the fresh leaves and shoots are chewed, although it can also be made into a tea or paste.
At least two dozen countries have listed khat as a controlled substance. The khat farmer, trader, and majority of chewers are deeply tied to the leaves for historical, economic and cultural reasons. Composition of essential oil and antioxidant activity of khat. Composition of essential oil and antioxidant activity of.
The eastern part of ethiopia is generally known for its cash crop production, predominantly khat and coffee, and food crop deficit 1. Prevalence and determinants of khat catha edulis chewing among high school students in eastern ethiopia. It has widespread use in somalia, djibouti, ethiopia, and parts of kenya, and is particularly popular in yemen. The available studies were either done before the expansion of public universities and increased admission loads or represent only a single facultydepartment of a university which might affect estimation of khat use among university students. Over the last decade khat cultivation has expanded to other regions of ethiopia, and has become an integral part of agriculture in the central and western highlands of ethiopia, as well, says kassa. Khat kat or chat is a mild recreational stimulant widely used in the horn of africa and on the arabian peninsula, equivalent in social context to the kola nut in west africa. Consumption has also spread from the traditional khat heartlands in the eastern. For ethiopias underemployed youth, life can center on a leaf. Methods the study used the 2011 ethiopian demographic. Ethiopias hararge region is the main area for cultivation of the crop. Download fulltext pdf legal harvest and illegal trade. In ethiopia khat production is legal but chewing is prohibited.
Though studies have not been conducted on the social drawbacks of khat, i have observed the isolation of chewers especially from people who do not use khat colleaguesfriends and religious people, for example. Background khat chewing has become a highly prevalent practice and a growing public health concern in ethiopia. Ethiopia is the worlds largest producer of khat, which is the countrys fastest growing export. Its true that in most of ethiopia consumption of qatchatmiraa is much lower than in yemen. Prevalence and determinants of khat catha edulis chewing. Ethiopia, oromia, alem maya, chewing drug khat market, somali women. May 10, 20 khat is the second largest commodity export in ethiopia, next to coffee, bringing millions of dollars billions of birr to the country. The phenylalkylamines and the cathedulins are the major alkaloids. Nov 21, 2014 in ethiopia there have been few studies of khat use among university students.
Officials consider such widespread use of the drug, blamed on a lack of work, a huge problem for the country. Khat use prevalence, causes and its effect on mental health, bahirdar, north west ethiopia asfaw getnet gebiresilus berhanie getnet gebresilus simegn sendek yizengaw daniel tsehay sewasew university of gondar, psychology department, college of social sciences and humanities,gondar, ethiopia teka zewudie mengesha. The federal democratic republic of ethiopia ministry of w. It includes information regarding the legality of khat in each jurisdiction and. Khat is much better than coffee, coffee farmer usmana ali told the mercury news. Coffee and khat are largely grown in small agroforestry and intercropped.
Poor academic performance has been associated with khat. Khat export negatively impacted by ethnic conflict between. In the next couple of years sanaa yemeni capital is due to run out of water completley thus becoming the first capital in the world to run out of water and this is largelly due to the cultivation of qat which is a very thirsty plant. Somaliland spends about 524 million dollars a yearabout 30 percent of gross domestic producton ethiopian khat many suspect the true figure to be much higher. Ethiopia the second most populous country in africa is a oneparty state with a planned economy. Its infusion is from chewing not ingesting the recently harvested leaf. Khat is a mild stimulant derived from the plant catha edulis grown in countries of the. Khat is now a major source of government revenue and export earnings. Khat, the stimulant leaf, has become a premier export commodity for ethiopian with annual earnings exceeding 250 million dollars. Magnitude of khat use and associated factors among women attending antenatal care in gedeo zone health centers, southern ethiopia. Table 3 below provides a summary of the forecast of hcfc consumption in ethiopia. Attempts, albeit unsuccessful, have been made to link the use of khat with serious health issues such as psychosis, insomnia, paranoia, and depression. But even with these unanswered questions, leaf of allah provides new insight into a little explored aspect of ethiopia s economic history.
Khat has been grown for use as a stimulant for centuries in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula. Addis abeba, july 272017 increasingly popular among the youth of addis abeba, khat, commonly known as chat by ethiopians, is a controversial perishable stimulant. Khat is now one of ethiopias largest crops by area of cultivation, the countrys second largest export earner, and an essential source of income for millions of ethiopian farmers. Ethiopia is deservedly famous for its coffee, but farmers are tearing up their bushes understandably given the collapse in coffee prices in favour of the much more easily grown and profitable khat shrub.
Pdf public discourse on khat catha edulis production in. Khat is illegal in many countries, like europe and usa. By assessing spatial variables and social factors, and using. It is also known as jimaa in the oromo language, mayirungi in luganda, and as miraa in kenya. In any of these countries, youll find the plant being sold freely at open markets and consumed with the same regularity as coffee in western countries. Consumption has also spread from the traditional khat heartlands in the eastern and southern regions of ethiopia to most major cities. Freshness commands the highest demand and best price. Khat, or catha edulis, is a flowering plant native to east africa which is legal to grow, sell and consume in ethiopia and used for its stimulant effects. Khat chewing practice and its perceived health effects. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults. Individuals chew khat leaves because of the stimulant effects, which are similar to but less intense than those caused by using cocaine or methamphetamine.
Khat is chewed for hours and users say it elevates your mood and stimulates your mind. While ethiopias khat trade continues to expand, a growing number of countries around the world are criminalizing its sale and consumption. A community based study, in jimma city, southwestern ethiopia. Trends, challenges and options in khat production in ethiopia article pdf available in international journal of drug policy 30.
Prevalence of khat chewing, hawassa university, southern ethiopia, june. Pdf public discourse on khat catha edulis production. Where does khat for those communities come from and what is the impact on the national economy. Pdf on oct 31, 2018, mekuria wuletaw and others published public discourse on khat catha edulis production in ethiopia. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults in. Ethiopia khat is weighed in a customs post near dire dawa. Dec 18, 2019 khat is a mildly narcotic plant that has been chewed and enjoyed socially for centuries in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula.
It has various negative physical, mental, social and cognitive effects. See more of chewing khat is the life of ethiopia on facebook. Khat chewing is common in the countries of the horn of africa ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with khat chewing among ethiopian university students. The federal democratic republic of ethiopia ministry of w orks and urban development resettlement policy framework urban local government development project draft no.
Khat expansion and forest decline in wondo genet, ethiopia article pdf available in geografiska annaler series b human geography 902. Chewing khat is the life of ethiopia home facebook. In its original subtropical locale of ethiopia and yemen, khat grows very easily into small sized trees or large shrubs. Ethiopia, kenya, somalia, zimbabwe, tanzania, uganda, malawi and south africa9 as well as yemen use khat. Although, anyone who has the intention to grow khat, may do so using seeds. Another of ethiopias eastern neighbours, djibouti, is reportedly ethiopias most lucrative external market. Addis ababa adinew agricultural alcohol amhara region areas average bahir birr birr per kg cash crop cathinone chapter chew culture chew khat chew session coffee consumers context deder and meta derg dire dawa districts djibouti dreams drug earnings eastern ethiopia eastern harerge economic effects of khat ethio ethiopia expansion of khat. Khat cultivation in ethiopia fuels economy, reduces. In islamic countries like yemen republic and somalia, as among the muslim members of ethiopia and kenya khat is the drug of choice and is legal, for unlike alcohol. Pdf khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults. Khat chewing among ethiopian university students a growing. The other main groups of refugees in ethiopia were from sudan and eritrea.
Ethiopias economy experienced strong, broadbased growth averaging 10. A trader carries bundles of khat chat for the market. Khat farmers in its native regions do not grow the plants using seeds. Khat chewing among ethiopian university students a.
Many different compounds are found in khat including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, sterols, glycosides, tannins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals 911. Khat is a perennial cash crop which has psychoactive properties whose tender leaves are chewed for euphonizing effects. Just like someone used to invite friends for coffee or tea in the good old days, today, friends invite each other to sit for khat to socialize. In the traditional context, khat is used in ritual and habitual ways that exhibit its cultural embeddedness. Ethiopia has enjoyed relative peace and stability since prime minister meles zenawi and his ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic revolutionary front eprdf came to power in 1991 at the end of a civil war. Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat. Addis ababa, may 8, 20 from all the rulers that followed the solomonic dynasty in ethiopia, lij iyasu, the grandson of emperor menelik ii was a lot different. Addis ababa adinew agricultural alcohol amhara region areas average bahir birr birr per kg cash crop cathinone chapter chew culture chew khat chew session coffee consumers context deder and meta derg dire dawa districts djibouti. Dave khat house with an ethiopian mobile phone number, selling the drug chewed widely in yemen, somalia and is currently legal in ethiopia. However nowhere else it is as widespread as it is in yemen10. About half of ethiopias youth are thought to chew khat, a psychotropic leaf. Khat catha edulis is a flowering shrub native to east africa and the arabian peninsula. Khat is drought and pest resistant and requires less water and less time to grow than coffee.
The following chart summarizes the legal status of khat catha edulis, also known as kat, qat, chat, and miraa, a plant whose leaves have a stimulant effect when chewed, in seven jurisdictions. Khat expansion and forest decline in wondo genet, ethiopia. In this article we report on the prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in ethiopia. Khat an increasing problem for ethiopian youth durame. About a third of the production is exported to djibouti and somalia, but the. Aug 20, 2002 khat is a cash crop which really benefits the khat growers, traders and the government. Improving drought response in pastoral areas of ethiopia somali and afar regions and borena zone of oromiya region sara pantuliano and mike wekesa humanitarian policy group overseas development institute, london prepared for the core group care, fao, save the children uk and save the children us january 2008 hpg humanitarian policy group. Khat is now one of ethiopia s largest crops by area of cultivation, the countrys second largest export earner, and an essential source of income for millions of ethiopian farmers. This study analyses the expansion of khat production in relation to forest decline in the wondo genet area in southcentral ethiopia.
Khat is ethiopia s third largest export item next to coffee and gold national bank of ethiopia report, 20. Contribution of khat kellas and the impacts of its closure. Khat is the second largest commodity export in ethiopia, next to coffee, bringing millions of dollars billions of birr to the country. Khat chewing has become a highly prevalent practice and. Introduction khat is the name generally used for catha edulis forsk, a young leaves and shoots of a flowering evergreen tree or shrub that grows at high altitudes in the region extending from eastern to southern africa, as well as in the arabian. The commercial town of aweday, where farmers sell their khat productions, was severely affected by the conflict. We did a crosssectional study from may 20, 2014 to june 23, 2014 on a sample of 1,255 regular students recruited from all campuses of hawassa university, southern ethiopia. Ethiopia could merge with lingering political cleavages and. To ban or not to ban foreign ban challenges khat export, while govt remains indifferent. Since then it has helped thousands of families by building decent homes with improved water and sanitation facilities. The khat plant is known by a variety of names, such as qat and gat in yemen, qaat and jaad in somalia, and chat in ethiopia. But the turn to khat production instead of coffee harms ethiopia, according to government officials. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among. The psychoactive constituents of khat, cathinone and cathine, are structurally similar to amphetamine.
Acres and acres of khat farms can be seen far into the distance. Though i was predisposed toward the ethiopia i had studied since the late 1950s, i appreciated that within its. Khat an increasing problem for ethiopian youth a farmer collecting khat in infranz, a village in the amhara region of ethiopia. Khat is a mildly narcotic plant that has been chewed and enjoyed socially for centuries in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula. Pdf khat expansion and forest decline in wondo genet, ethiopia. Hfhe runs a diverse, innovative program, tailored to. The young designated but uncrowned emperor of ethiopia 1916, who was supposed to be succeeding the throne of. Khat leaves have an astringent taste and have an aromatic odour. Ethiopia is thought to be the country of origin of khat use 5. Export quality khat is packed and sent everyday to countries that do not ban the plant of which djibouti and the united kingdom are the major ones. Apr 10, 2004 ethiopia is deservedly famous for its coffee, but farmers are tearing up their bushes understandably given the collapse in coffee prices in favour of the much more easily grown and profitable khat shrub.
Ethiopia as a nation, defining it as an obsolete empirestate, a prison house of peoples. It includes information regarding the legality of khat in each jurisdiction and, where it is banned, the applicable penalties. Habitat for humanity in ethiopia habitat for humanity ethiopia hfhe has been active since 1993. Khat is an integral part of the agricultural systems of nearly all regions of ethiopia. Not only top export earner it also plays a considerable role in the local economy, as it is a source. Attempts, albeit unsuccessful, have been made to link the use of khat.
In ethiopia, depending upon geographical location, various chemotypes of khat are cultivated and these chemistry international 31 2017 2531 composition of essential oil and antioxidant activity of khat catha edulis forsk, ethiopia yohannes mulugeta hailu1, minaleshewa atlabachew2, bhagwan singh chandravanshi1, and. Sep 02, 2005 but khat consumption in addis ababa and the provincial capitals is considerable. The young and underemployed are increasingly chewing khat, a psychotropic leaf that has amphetaminelike effects. Contact chewing khat is the life of ethiopia on messenger. The production of khat in ethiopia has boomed over the last two decades, making the country the worlds leading source. Ethiopia estimated its future demand to increase by an average of 7 per cent annually.
May 09, 20 khat is the second largest commodity export in ethiopia, next to coffee, bringing millions of dollars billions of birr to the country. Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing. Magnitude of khat use and associated factors among women. For ethiopias underemployed youth, life can center on a. This study aimed to identify factors associated with khat chewing practice among ethiopian adults.
Jul 22, 2017 about half of ethiopias youth are thought to chew khat, a psychotropic leaf. Improving drought response in pastoral areas of ethiopia. Khat export negatively impacted by ethnic conflict. Hence the ethiopian government looks on khat as a useful exportable product to other countries, bringing in sorely need foreign currency, the access to which presents a perennial problem in ethiopia. A controversial land use and livelihood change scenario 150 outstanding cup quality 1.