Boon for Farmers As Macadamia Prices Hit New High
Macadamia farmers are enjoying a remarkable turnaround, with farm-gate prices soaring past Sh100 per kilo, dramatically rising from the Sh20 it traded last year.
This windfall comes as the government reintroduces the harvest scheduling system this harvest season, ending the open-window period introduced in 2023 to cushion the sector during the global market downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Reports from county governments also indicate that production has expanded beyond traditional growing areas to regions such as Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Nyanza, Ukambani, and Taita Taveta.
Dr Bruno Linyiru, Chief Executive Officer of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), says that improved global demand for macadamia nuts justifies closing the unrestricted harvesting period.
“This season’s production outlook is positive, and the market has significantly recovered,” he said.
Jane Maigua, Chairperson of the Macadamia Nut Association of Kenya (MACNUT), representative of nut processors, said the price rebound is a reflection of renewed global interest.
“Farmers who are also supplying quality nuts are now receiving over Sh100 per kilo, compared to as little as Sh20 last year. This is a big win for the farming community,” she said.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that the reintroduction of harvest scheduling aims to address a long-standing issue of premature harvesting driven by middlemen.
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