A kilogram of macadamia nut has increased by five times from Kes 20 to Kes 100 per kilo since the government suspended a ban on exporting unprocessed nuts.
Members of the Nuts Traders Association of Kenya who some processors and farmers accompanied in a meeting held in Sagana on Friday, observed in January that more than 1,000 tons of unprocessed macadamia had been exported to Asian countries.
Through a gazette notice, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi suspended Section 43 of the Crops Act of 2013 that prohibited the sale of unprocessed nuts for one year in 2023.
The association chairman, Johnson Kihara, stated that the law had affected many farmers since processed nuts could not get better prices in international markets.
He said some European countries that purchase processed nuts could not provide better markets, thus leaving processors to hold nuts in their factories.
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Further, he castigated some processors, whom he claimed were planning to move to court and challenge Linturi’s decision, terming them as enemies of farmers.
On his part, the secretary general of the association, John Ndirangu, said they will continue to push for the repeal of the law that bans the exporting of unprocessed macadamia nuts.
Ndirangu observed that lifting the ban for one year is a short-term relief for farmers who have suffered after the drastic drop in nut prices.
John Njiru, a macadamia farmer from Embu, urged farmers not to fall prey to brokers who buy nuts for less than Sh100.
Njiru accused some brokers, saying they have perpetuated the stealing and selling of immature macadamia nuts.
A representative from AFA Kirangu Gathutha asked the traders to adhere to all conditions that were set by the government when it suspended the law.
He said no agent should buy macadamia from farmers at a price less than Sh100, and AFA should register all the agents.
