For thousands of Kenyan smallholder farmers, macadamia offers a growing opportunity, a high-value crop with the potential to positively impact rural livelihoods.
Kenya already ranks among the world’s top three macadamia producers, and as global demand for these “green gold” nuts continues to rise, we are well-positioned to cement our place as a leading global supplier.
Growing health and lifestyle trends are driving consumers toward nutrient-rich, plant-based snacks and nuts like macadamia are increasingly viewed as a premium source of healthy fats and protein.
At the same time, its use as a high-value ingredient in confectionery, bakery, and luxury food products continues to keep global prices strong.
However, to seize this opportunity, more needs to be done to address the key challenges affecting farmers.
Pest infestations continue to affect nut quality and reduce farmer earnings, while gaps in market regulation hinder the ability to maximise local value addition. With stronger collaboration, targeted investments, and effective enforcement of existing policies, Kenya can enhance its position in global markets and ensure that farmers reap the full benefits of their hard work.
Pest losses threaten farmers’ earnings but solutions exist. Recent data from Tupande reveals that in the 2024 long rains season, an alarming 17.3 percent of macadamia harvests were lost to pest and insect infestation.
That is nearly one in five nuts. Although interventions helped reduce losses to nine perceent in 2025, industry-wide infestation remains as high as 30 percent, according to estimates from 2024.
The cost is steep: farmers can lose up to 406 kilogrammes per season due to downgraded nut quality, translating to over Sh40,000 in lost income per farmer at current farmgate prices. Yet, we have seen what works. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that teaches farmers to combine biological control, field hygiene and monitoring, has shown positive outcomes in reducing infestation rates.
When Kenya introduced the ban on in-shell macadamia exports in 2009, the goal was to empower farmers by promoting local processing, value addition, and job creation. This policy helped spur the growth of domestic processing facilities, expanding income opportunities for farmers and businesses alike.
However, there is still room to strengthen enforcement and close regulatory gaps. The current framework implemented through a ministerial directive has served the country well but can sometimes vary with changes in administration.
A permanent legislative framework enacted through Parliament would provide long-term stability, ensuring that all macadamia exports from Kenya are fully processed locally, regardless of who holds office.
When in-shell nuts are exported raw, they are often processed abroad, shelled, roasted, and resold at significantly higher prices in global markets such as the EU and Germany.
As a result, Kenya misses out on critical value-added benefits, including jobs, tax revenue, and export earnings.
Moreover, inconsistent nut quality from informal sourcing channels can affect Kenya’s global reputation, with some buyers perceiving Kenyan macadamia as less reliable than competitors such as South Africa or Australia.
The 2009 restriction on in-shell exports played a key role in expanding our network of macadamia processors, creating a solid foundation for domestic value addition and export growth.
Today, with increasing global demand, there is a timely opportunity to build on that momentum. This means strengthening linkages between farmers and processors, from supporting consistent quality standards and expanding extension services at the farm level to improving access to market information and capacity building for processors.
Encouragingly, the MACNUT Association of Kenya is already leading efforts to harmonise standards and enhance coordination within the industry. Their ongoing work to align market practices and promote fair, transparent engagement across the value chain is helping to build confidence among farmers, processors, and buyers alike.
Farmers want to grow high-quality macadamia nuts and earn a fair price for their hard work. Achieving this means tackling the challenges that matter most: effective pest control, access to quality seedlings, practical training, and reliable markets that reward their efforts.
Each actor in the value chain has a role to play. For processors, true partnership with farmers goes beyond price, it’s about trust, faster payments, and quality incentives that keep farmers motivated. When farmers earn more, processors benefit too. Government support is equally vital.
A lasting legislative framework for macadamia, alongside investment in extension services and rural infrastructure, will provide farmers and processors with the stability and confidence to grow the sector. At the same time, collaboration among government, industry associations, researchers, and development partners is also essential.
Joint efforts to develop pest-resistant, high-yielding varieties, combined with farmer training and stronger market linkages, can raise productivity, increase incomes, and strengthen rural and national economies, ensuring prosperity is shared from the farm up.
The writer is a Government Relations and Policy Manager at Tupande (One Acre Fund Kenya)
