Resume macadamia harvesting advises AFA

The Mountain Journal

Agriculture Food Authority lifted the macadamia harvesting ban allowing the trading  to start on February 1,  after a study established that the nuts were mature in many parts of the country.

In a notice, the regulator Director General Dr Bruno Linyiru,  listed the ban that was imposed to run between December 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, after a maturity surveillance ascertained prevailing maturity status.

“ In view of the findings, and following request by the stakeholders the authority will officially re-open the harvesting and trading of macadamia nuts effective  from February 1,” read part of the notice dated January 29.

The regulator pleaded with the stakeholders to only harvest the mature nuts, and allow the immature ones to develop.

During the ban period the majority of the nut traders pointed an accusing finger  at AFA  for allowing certain dealers  to continue buying the nuts while those aligned to the nut traders association abided by the law.

This week, farmers in Kirinyaga took to the streets in Kiamutugu market, Gichugu constituency protested over the delay by AFA to take stern action against some players who flout the regulations with impunity.

Led by Muriithi Gichabi, the farmers asked the government to allow 40 percent of the harvest be exported as raw nuts to the Chinese market annually.

They said the Chinese market that prefers the unprocessed nuts pays better than the others.

“In the economically pressed nation, the farmers prefer they be allowed to export the raw nuts in efforts to uplift their living standards after years of challenges,” said Gichabi.  

 Nut traders Association Chairman Johnson Kihara pleads with President William Ruto to call  for a meeting with the macadamia farmers  to help in the streamlining of the sector.

“AFA and the Ministry of Agriculture have continued frustrating the farmers by allowing unscrupulous traders to secretly buy the commodity during the ban period,” said Kihara

Two weeks ago, the nut farmers in the counties called on the AFA  to convene fresh public participation forums to allow them deliberate on affairs of the industry.

The farmers in Rift Valley and Eastern regions  demanded for a stakeholder meeting, saying last year forums’ were centred in the Mt Kenya region, thus they were not represented, thus advisories were skewed on some while others operated with impunity.