Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Mutahi Kagwe, among other leaders, on February 27, 2025/ HANDOUTThe harvesting season for mature macadamia nuts for 2025 will begin on March 1, Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Mutahi Kagwe has said.
CS Kagwe noted that the current ban on export of all raw and in-shell nuts is retained, saying the government‘s policy stance is well meaning and informed by a commitment to ensuring that the industry adheres to the law.
Kagwe said that this is as enshrined in the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) Act, the Oil Crops (Nuts and Crops) Regulations of 2020, and various other national, regional, and international obligations.
The CS noted that the move will not be achieved with a group pushing for export of in-shell nuts but through a unified and holistic approach to turn the threats into opportunities.
He asked all macadamia farmers to register under the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management System (KIAMIS) so the government, farmers, development partners, and the private sector are better able to plan for the sector.
“AFA shall coordinate with the county governments to support farmers rollout out formation of groups for the sector through such initiatives as the e-Extension service, subsidised fertiliser and real-time market information, and an organized farm base will make it easier to engage and support them,” he said.
AFA was tasked with convening, chairing, implementing, and leading these policy directives immediately through the formation of a multistakeholder Macadamia Nuts Standing Committee.
The committee will also introduce traceability in the sector 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.
He said Kenya ranks third globally in production and revenues but is at risk of losing 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 CS added.
The industry has been 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, are targeting to investigate potential smuggling of in-shell macadamia nuts.
The macadamia meeting chaired by Kagwe directed the directorate to enforce registration and licensing of dealers in marketing agencies.
This, they agreed, should be done 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).
The stakeholders meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary State Department for Agriculture Kipronoh Ronoh, AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru, Macadamia Nut Processors Association of Kenya (MACNUT), Nut Processors Association of Kenya (NUTPAK), and farmers.
They resolved that the directorate should implement mandatory inspections of macadamia shipments to ensure compliance.
To protect unsuspecting buyers, an enforcement of the zero-tolerance policy on the reintroduction of poor-quality nuts into the market will be done.
A standardization 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 be developed for the use of X-ray scanners.
