Khat

A flowering shrub (Catha edulis) native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, cultivated for its leaves, which are chewed fresh for their mild stimulant effect and are deeply embedded in the social and economic life of Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and neighboring countries. The crop demands intensive irrigation and labor and, because its stimulant compounds degrade quickly after harvest, must reach consumers within a day or two of picking, shaping distinctive local transport and marketing networks built around its perishability. Khat cultivation occupies a large share of agricultural land and water in some of its core growing regions, generating significant rural income even as its chewing is restricted or banned in many countries outside its traditional range.