The Worrying figures of Qat Consumption in Somaliland

A new study discovers the average expenses used daily for buying Qat in Somaliland exceeds $1.5 million whereas the revenue counts only$14,625per day. A research from 50 Qat chewers and 10 Qat sellers (both genders,in four of the capitals of the six main regions of Somaliland-Hargeisa, Berbera, Burao and Erigavo- reveals that the average daily expense on Qat per chewer is $4.95 in a country where more than half of its 3.5 Million populations earn less than a dollar daily.

Qat (Catha Edulis) is green leafy twigs with narcotic effect and grown in East African highlands and like most drugs, it is addictive and must be consumed daily. The majority of Somali men are addicted to Qat, which has a huge influence on their life in Somali society.

The study conducted by Jama Ismail Nor, a university student pursuing a masters degree and has undergraduate degree in Economics, points out that the number of Qat chewers and the amount they chew is increasing steadily than ever before.

The study carried out last year, suggests that the cheap taxation imposed on Qat is a root cause for the ever increasing Qat consumption in Somaliland. Besides the big difference between Qat costs and revenues in Somaliland, there is also a wide gap between the expected profits and the actual profits from Qat, according to the study. Surprisingly the findings show a possible reason for the low profits due to the own consumption of Qat sellers from down to dask while some chewers borrow the Qat form the Qat sellers but they hardly show up to repay the debt.

According to the study findings, the average Qat chewer spends 6.9 hours on Qat chewing and more than 70% of the Qat chewers (interviewed in the study) do nothing else during this time. The study concluded that 2,951,544 hours are spent on Qat chewing session per day in Somaliland. It is clear that almost one-third of the Qat chewer’s time is spent on Qat chewing without doing other work, just telling stories and quarelling “ fadhi ku dirir”.

Mr. Noor believes that the productivity of Qat chewer is very low, and more than 80% of them suggested that they would have stopped chewing if they had to work all day.

In his study, Mr. Noor warns of the deep negative impact of Qat on Somaliland’s population as he proves the study’s hypothesis that “Qat has a negative effect on Somaliland”

“Qat has made our teenagers vulnerable to early addiction of Qat and related drugs. It has made our adults and parents less productive than their counterparts in the world” said Mr. Noor.

The study suggests the most appropriate solutions for the negative effect of Qat on Somaliland’s population as simple steps ranging from awareness to legislation. “in order to tackle the problem of Qat in our country, the research recommends that other trading alternatives should be developed, the government should increase the tax on Qat, nationwide awareness campaigns should be carried out, employment opportunities should be created for Qat sellers and chewers and finally, the Somaliland legislatives should develop a clear Qat consumption reduction policy” suggests the study.

“The study is reliable and realistic at large, thoug we cannot rule out the inaccuracies due to the sample or otherwise” says the researcher.

For the full study please contact the researcher, Mr.Jama Ismail Noor, at the following addresses:

E-mail: Jaamacyare11@hotmail.com Mobile: +252 2 4435848.