Ministry releases macadamia harvesting and export guidelines
The Kenyan macadamia industry is heavily export-oriented, with approximately 95% of its annual production shipped to international markets. In 2019, farm gate prices for macadamia nuts in shell (NIS)peaked at an all-time high of Kshs 180/kg. However, by early 2023, prices had dropped significantly, ranging between Kshs. 30-40/kg. To address this, the Ministry of Agriculture, under Section 43 of the AFA Act, 2013, lifted the ban on raw macadamia exports providing a one-year export window effective from 3rd November 2023. This remedial measure aimed to stabilize prices and help farmers manage excess stock impacted by global market conditions. The Ministry says that a rapid industry assessment shows that many local companies lack quality stocks for processing.
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