Kenyan macadamia farmers urged to deliver quality nuts as harvesting season advances 

KENYA – Kenyan macadamia farmers have been urged to supply mature, high-quality nuts to designated collection centers nationwide as the harvesting season progresses. 

The MACNUT Association has cautioned against brokers seeking to exploit farmers by lowering prices and interfering with fair market rates. 

MACNUT Chairperson Jane Maigua called on farmers to reject payments below Kes 100 per kilogram, emphasizing that fair pricing would not only benefit farmers but also sustain employment and strengthen Kenya’s presence in global macadamia markets. 

She noted that by focusing on value addition and local processing, the industry could drive economic growth and create more job opportunities. 

“To ensure farmers receive the best value for their produce, we encourage them to sell through legitimate channels rather than through brokers who seek to manipulate prices,” Maigua stated. 

Farmers can deliver their produce to collection centers in key macadamia-growing regions, including Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Machakos, Taita Taveta, Kiambu, Baringo, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, and Makueni. 

Speaking before the Senate last week, Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe reported that Kenya earned Kes 8.7 billion (US$67.19M) from exporting 10,670 tonnes of macadamia kernels between July 2023 and February 2025. This was significantly higher than the Sh2.3 billion (US$17.76M) generated from exporting 14,384 tonnes of raw macadamia during the same period. 

Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the ban on raw macadamia exports, stating that lifting the restriction would harm Kenya’s value chain by reducing local processing activities and causing job losses.  

He stressed that processed macadamia fetches much higher prices internationally, with each kilogram earning US$5.54 compared to just US$1.09 for raw nuts. 

To protect farmers and processors, the government is collaborating with industry players to enforce a guaranteed minimum price of Kes 100 per kilogram.  

Farmers are also encouraged to form cooperatives and register with the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management System (KIAMIS) to access subsidies and marketing support. 

In addition, the Agriculture Ministry is implementing measures to support farmers, including training programs to enhance production quality, improved market linkages, and the establishment of a regular production calendar for effective quality control. 

A Macadamia Nuts Standing Committee will be set up to engage key stakeholders in determining farm gate prices and addressing industry challenges. The initiative will involve county governments and major players within the macadamia value chain. 

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