Just a month after restricting the export of macadamia nuts of inferior quality, the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture has rescinded the order. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Karanja Mwihia, communicated the reversal in a notice to farmers on December 5. The decision came after a comprehensive review by the Ministry, revealing that some exporters possessed unfulfilled export orders and stocks of raw macadamia nuts.
"Given the aforementioned, and in exercising the powers conferred to me by Section 43 of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013, I hereby authorize the export of raw (in-shell) macadamia nuts for 30 days from the date of this notice," Mwihia stated. The review identified that certain exporters had yet to service export orders and held stocks of the nuts in question.
Exporters are granted a 30-day window to dispatch their produce, after which the ban might be reinstated. Mwihia also mandated that all licensed processors interested in exporting must apply for new licenses. "Subsequently, licensed exporters who would wish to export raw (in-shell) macadamia nuts are required to apply in writing to the Agriculture and Food Authority - Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate and attach a copy of duly filled and signed stock verification form," the notice elaborated.
This move aims to facilitate the clearance of verified stocks by exporters. Initially, the ban was instituted to ensure the exportation of only high-quality macadamia nuts from Kenya, with the Ministry highlighting that 95% of the local annual production is exported. A rapid industry assessment indicated a lack of sufficient quality stocks for processing among many local companies. Furthermore, according to the World Macadamia Organization, Kenya ranks third in the exportation of nut-in-shell and kernel macadamia, trailing behind South Africa and Australia.
Source: Kenyans