Kakuzi expands macadamia production to meet rising edible oil demand
KENYA – In response to the growing demand for edible oils, Kakuzi, an agri-business firm, has significantly increased its macadamia production.
The company reported a surge in Macadamia production from 492 tonnes to 659 tonnes in 2022, as outlined in its fourth Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report.
Kakuzi’s strategic move to boost macadamia production aligns with the increasing emphasis on local production of edible oils.
The company aims to capitalize on the rising demand for macadamia oil, contributing to the growth of the local market for this commodity.
“By the end of 2022, Macadamia occupied 1,129ha allocated to the macadamia orchard. 32,870 cartons (371,725kg) were exported to the United States, Europe, and Japan. For the local market, the company sold 900 roasted nuts,” Chris Flowers, the Managing Director of Kakuzi, highlighted.
Earlier in the year, Kakuzi faced challenges posed by the global macadamia glut, prompting the implementation of various strategies.
These included intensifying efforts in domestic market retail sales, launching a new macadamia oil processing facility, and introducing cold-pressed macadamia oil products to encourage local consumption and provide alternatives to imported vegetable oils.
The company’s commitment to climate-smart agriculture was also highlighted in the ESG report. Investments in climate-smart agriculture aim to mitigate the impact of drought on horticultural and macadamia nut operations.
In a significant achievement for the company, Kakuzi became the first commercial exporter of African-grown avocados to China in 2022, shipping nine containers of quality export-grade avocados.
This export, along with others to Europe, brought the total number of avocado containers to 527, weighing approximately 11.4 million kilograms during the year.
Kakuzi’s dedication to enhancing knowledge in avocado production is evident through the establishment of the Avocado Academy. This initiative aims to train farmers, empowering them with increased knowledge in avocado cultivation.
Following the release of the ESG report, Festus Ng’eno, the Permanent Secretary of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, challenged Kakuzi to explore carbon market opportunities.
This exploration could enable the company to engage in sustainable community projects, ultimately reducing poverty and fostering meaningful development.
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