Paradise flower: Somalis revel in low-price "khat"

Khat is grown on plantations in the highlands of Kenya and Ethiopia. Every day, tons of it are flown into Mogadishu airport for further distribution in markets across Somalia.

Called the "flower of paradise," Khat, or Qat, was popular with the ethnic Somali community in the United Kingdom. A recent British ban has lead to an overabundance of the leaf in Somalia.

Somali enclaves in the UK sustained much of the demand for khat. The recent British ban has glutted the Somali market with the leaf, and driven down prices. Somali khat chewers are savoring the narcotic at much-reduced costs.

Khat traders often rush after bundles of khat stems and leaves, whose potency wanes a few days after being plucked. There was heated debate around the decision to ban the drug in the United Kingdom, with some arguing it would alienate immigrant youths and drive them to crime.

Khat induces an amphetamine-like high when chewed or smoked. Some defenders of khat-chewing say it is a time-honored tradition and an important part of the Somali economy. Since the British ban, the price of the "paradise flower" has been cut in half, from 20 dollars a kilogram to 10 dollars.

Many Somalis are exposed to khat as children, as some view chewing and smoking the leaf as a tradition. Others say khat abuse is at least partially to blame for the violent and chaotic history in the past 20 years. According to the World Health Organization, khat can cause increased blood pressure, insomnia, anorexia, constipation, irritability, migraines and sexual impotence in men.

According to the Mogadishu mayor's office, increased khat use is a concern, but not a high priority. Officials are too bogged down battling Islamist al Shabaab rebels and building up the nations institutions and infrastructure to pay khat abuse too much attention.