The State has reneged on its promise to extend a six-month window for the export of raw macadamia nuts, only limiting the period to 30 days in a development that deals a blow to farmers stuck with piles of the hard-shelled product.
In a public notice issued by Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja, the government said those who want to export raw nuts after this window will be required to formally apply in writing to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
“Between November 3 and November 9, 2024, the AFA Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate undertook a physical verification exercise to establish macadamia stocks held by various licensed processors, exporters, and marketing agents. From the exercise, it was found that some exporters had stocks of raw nuts in shell and export orders were yet to be serviced,” wrote Dr Karanja.
“In view of the aforementioned, and in exercising the powers conferred to me by Section 43 of AFA Act, 2013, I hereby authorise the export of raw macadamia nuts for 30 days from the date of this notice.”
Dr Karanja had earlier in September this year, appearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee, pledged to extend the export window period for six months following an aggressive push by senators.
The ban on the export of raw or in-shell macadamia nuts was lifted on November 3, 2023, for one year, which expired on November 2, 2024, posing an imminent crisis to farmers who would be stuck with the product with nowhere to sell.
Section 43 of the AFA Act 2013 prohibits the export of raw macadamia except with the written approval of the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary.
Before the Senate session, the CS held a hardline stance that the government would not avert the resumption of the ban, citing the need to protect farmers from brokers as well as ensuring that the local processing industry thrives.
At the time, the CS had explained that Kenya benefits more from exporting processed macadamia nuts (kernels) than from exporting in-shell (raw) unprocessed nuts.
Local processors have in the past reported that they have not been able to meet their export orders for kernels as they are operating below their processing capacity.
