Macadamia harvest kicks off as export ban remains in place

Harvesting season for mature macadamia nuts for this year begins on Saturday, March 1st, 2025, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced Thursday.

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 meeting Thursday with the Macadamia stakeholder, the CS noted that the foregoing will not be achieved with a group pushing for the export of in-shell nuts but through a unified and holistic approach to turn the threats into opportunities.

“I want to passionately plead with all Macadamia farmers to register under the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management System (KIAMIS) so that the government, farmers, development partners and the private sector are better able to plan for the sector,” he said.

AFA, Kagwe explained, shall coordinate with the county governments to support farmers in rolling out the formation of groups for the sector through such initiatives as the e-Extension service, subsidised fertiliser and real-time market information, and an organised farm base will make it easier to engage and support them.

AFA was tasked with convening, chairing, implementing and leading these policy directives immediately through the formation of a multi-stakeholder Macadamia Nuts Standing Committee.

This committee will also introduce traceability in the sector in an effort to break into new markets, address various concerns about non-compliance by some industry players and improve the reputation and brand value of Kenya’s macadamia nuts.

Kenya ranks third globally in production and revenues but is at risk of losing this market leadership if the current wrangles persist.

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.

By Wangari Ndirangu