VOA标准英语2013--Chewing Khat Increasingly Popular Among Ethiopians

 

Chewing Khat Increasingly Popular Among Ethiopians

Khat's popularity is growing as more members of the middle and upper classes are chewing the leaf.  The natural stimulant¹ is considered to be mildly addictive² and the leaf has become the country's number-two export behind coffee.

But in Ethiopia itself, the government has banned khat houses.  That means men now gather in private homes to chew and discuss daily life, politics and sports.

“I started chewing about seven or eight years go," one man explained.  "It gives me energy to do more work.  When I’m chewing I feel happy and I’m more effective.”

“I started chewing about a month ago," another man said. "I wish I started chewing before because it gives me pleasure and more energy to do work.  You just have to be careful not to become addicted³.”

Khat not only boosts energy but boosts Ethiopia’s economy. Although official numbers are not available, thousands farmers are believed to be growing khat. The plant can be harvested up to four times a year, and with millions of people using it in East Africa, Yemen and in the diaspora, it is more profitable than other crops.

The sector⁴ not only provides employment in rural areas, it also creates jobs in the cities.  Now, there is a new phenomenon in capital city Addis Ababa: khat home delivery boys on scooters.

“There are some people who don’t want to be seen at a khat shop by other people so we deliver for those people," a delivery boy explained. "There are also other people, they want to sit in their house, they just want to relax.”

As the demand for the leaf in Ethiopia has increased, so has the price.

“Khat was very cheap 10 years ago compared to today.  The highest price then was 20 or 25 birr.  But today, half a bundle of khat is 60 birr and a full bundle of khat is 120 birr,” a khat chewer complained.

Studies show that health consequences of chewing khat are limited. Dawit Wondimagegn is dean is the Addis Ababa University Medical School. He questioned whether a growing number of users is desirable.

“The question we need to ask is whether khat chewing results in a lack of productivity or lack of opportunity [and] predisposes young people to chew more khat," he remarked. "In places like ours, where there is no meaningful employment, people get bored and they could go and start chewing khat to spend their time.  We have to analyze⁵ this question very carefully.”   

While students and professionals use khat in hopes of improving their school results or work performance, some towns in the country empty out in the afternoon after people start chewing. So while khat production is flourishing, it is not yet clear if more users will create less productive Ethiopians.

1 stimulant   

n.刺激物，兴奋剂

参考例句：

• It is used in medicine for its stimulant quality.由于它有兴奋剂的特性而被应用于医学。
• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。

2 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

3 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。