Macadamia farmers and traders in Kenya report losses due to the extended ban on exporting in-shell nuts. The government reinstated this ban on January 2, leading to unsold nuts rotting in farms and stores. Despite multiple appeals to the agriculture Cabinet Secretary, the situation remains unresolved.
Initially lifted on November 2, 2023, by former CS Mithika Linturi, the ban was extended by former CS Andrew Karanja to January 2, 2024. Johnson Kihara, chairman of the Nuts Traders Association of Kenya (NUTRAK), highlighted the absence of export certificates from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) as a barrier, causing stockpile issues for traders and farmers alike. Kihara stated, "I have three containers of nuts in my stores yet the government has refused to issue export certificates. If I can't sell them, then I also can't buy macadamia from farmers. It's the farmers who lose."
Lenana Processors, Edenswin Traders Ltd, and Topnut Mac and Commodities collectively hold 32 unsold containers. The financial implications are severe, with each container valued at approximately Sh. 20 million. Some stakeholders advocate for the removal of section 43 of the AFA Act, claiming it favors large-scale processors with expensive machinery.
AFA announced increased enforcement in the sector, addressing issues like unauthorized trading and improper handling of nuts. However, Peter Maina from Topnut Mac and Commodities contends this contradicts a court order suspending a ministerial directive on harvesting restrictions. Maina criticized the exclusion of certain stakeholders in public discussions led by the Macadamia Nut Processors Association (MACNUT).
Murithi Gichabi, a farmer, expressed concerns over potential sectoral collapse, urging the Ministry of Agriculture and AFA to convene a forum to address the ongoing challenges.
Source: Kenya News