Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has suspended the ban on the exportation of raw Macadamia nuts in advance to open up the Markets for one year.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Monday, April 10, the CS said the move will help stabilize the prices that have dropped to as low as Ksh 20 per kilogram.
He stated that the ban had been placed by the government to promote local processing, boosting industrialization and creating employment opportunities for Kenyan citizens.
“40 Macadamia processors are buying Macadamia at Ksh 20 per Kilogram and selling at Ksh 800 in International markets. We do not want Ksh 800. We will be okay with Ksh 250 per Kilogram for our toiling farmers”, CS Moses Kuria said.
The suspension of the ban will attract more buyers from all over the world, hence allowing farmers to sell their nuts at higher recommended prices.
Macadamia nuts are mainly grown in the Central part of Kenya including parts of Kirinyaga, Meru, Muranga, Kiambu, and Embu respectively.
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The Macadamia tree has extended to other areas of the country which include Kitale, Machakos, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Taita Taveta.
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The Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on the other hand promised Macadamia farmers to give a solution to their ongoing price crisis in a week’s time.
CS Linturi said he has informed the Board of Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to find a solution to the lack of a Macadamia market within the county.
Farmers have been urged to hold on to their products, which is not perishable good, for at least 10 days awaiting the AFA direction for the next step.
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“Do not sell your Macadamia at Ksh 20 to brokers and allow us to give the way forward after 10 days. I do not want the farmer’s products to go to waste due to low cost, through the AFA board, I will ensure we get the right terms and conditions,” CS Linturi said.
Making matters worse, Farmers in Embu have been forced to sell their Macadamia for as low as Ksh 20 per kilogram.
