Kenya’s 2025 Macadamia Harvesting Season Kicks off from 1st March
Harvesting season for mature macadamia nuts in Kenya this year begins on March 1st, 2025, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced recently.
The CS Kagwe, however, retained the current ban on the export of all raw, in-shell nuts, maintaining that the government’s policy stance is well-meaning and informed by a commitment to ensuring that the industry adheres to the law, as enunciated in the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) Act, the Oil Crops (Nuts and Crops) Regulations of 2020, and various other national, regional and international obligations.
In a recent meeting with macadamia stakeholders, CS Kagwe emphasized the need for a unified approach to turn the sector challenges into opportunities He urged macadamia farmers to register with the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management System (KIAMIS) for better planning and coordination with government and private sector partners..
AFA will collaborate with county governments to support farmers through initiatives like e-extension services, subsidized fertilizers, and real-time market data. The formation of a Macadamia Nuts Standing Committee aims to introduce traceability, address non-compliance issues, and enhance the reputation of Kenya’s macadamia nuts.
Kenya ranks third globally in macadamia production and revenue but faces risks to its market position due to internal disputes. The ultimate goals are to protect the nascent industry, raise both quality and quantity, protect farmers’ incomes, encourage local value addition in all agricultural value chains, and create, grow and protect local jobs.
The industry has been deeply divided over the ban imposed by the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA) in September 2024.
The Agriculture and Food Authority, in collaboration with government agencies, is targeting to investigate potential smuggling of in-shell macadamia nuts and should it be confirmed, perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.
In addition, the macadamia meeting chaired by the CS Kagwe has also directed the directorate to enforce registration and licensing of dealers, particularly marketing agencies, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, such as county governments and the national police service.
Plantation growers will be prioritised to enhance monitoring of nut maturity across the agro-ecological zones (AEZs).
At the point of customs, the stakeholders meeting attended by the Principal Secretary State Department for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru, Macadamia Nut Processors Association of Kenya (MACNUT), Nut Processors Association of Kenya (NUTPAK) and farmers resolved that the directorate should implement mandatory inspections of macadamia shipments to ensure compliance.
In order to protect unsuspecting buyers, an enforcement of the zero-tolerance policy on the reintroduction of poor-quality nuts into the market will be done and further, a standardisation system for assessing nut quality will be established aligned with existing quality standards and parameters.
To ensure consistency and accurate quality assessment, clear guidelines will also be developed for the use of X-ray scanners.
The technical department, Regulations and Compliance and Technical and Advisory Services, should provide training on macadamia Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) that include best practices for maturity assessment and pest control to improve the production of high-quality nuts.
Source: Kenya News
