No Harvesting Of Macadamia Until March 2025
In a decisive move aimed at stabilizing Kenya’s macadamia industry, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja announced a nationwide ban on macadamia harvesting, effective until March 2025.
The decision follows extensive consultations with key industry stakeholders and will be enforced by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), tasked with revoking the licenses of those who defy the ban.
CS Karanja emphasized that the directive is essential to address critical challenges facing the macadamia sector, especially as 95% of Kenya’s macadamia production is geared towards export markets.
The CS revealed that farm gate prices for macadamia nuts hit an all-time high of Sh180 per kilogram in 2019, but have since plummeted to as low as Sh30-40/kg by early 2023.
“The lifting of the ban on raw macadamia exports, which provides a one-year export window starting November 2023, is intended to stabilize market prices and manage excess stock. The goal is to prevent the further export of immature nuts, which has severely impacted Kenya’s reputation in international markets,” said Dr. Karanja.
To support this initiative, Karanja added that dealers must submit their existing stock for inspection and clearance by 15th November 2024. A minimum guaranteed farm gate price of Sh100 per kilogram will be enforced, helping protect farmers from volatile market conditions.
Additionally, the National and County Governments will collaborate to uphold the Crops Act, 2013, and Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations, 2020, ensuring strict adherence across the industry.
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No Harvesting Of Macadamia Until March 2025
