How a small Kenyan town developed the most efficient agricultural industry on the planet

Green Gold
How a small Kenyan town developed the most efficient agricultural industry on the planet.
By Michela Wrong
Posted Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at 3:24 AM PT

MAUA, Kenya—Two boys lie sunning themselves on the lawn of Maua Methodist Hospital. Both sport identical injuries: Their right hands are wrapped in white bandages. It's the kind of injury you'd receive defending yourself from a knife or machete attack, and it's one the nurse has seen countless times before.

"We have a lot of cutting here," he acknowledges. "I've never actually done a survey, but I'd guess half the cases in casualty are related to miraa." He gives his name, hesitates, then asks me not to use it. "We don't like to talk too loud here about miraa."