In Kenya, macadamia farmers have been granted an additional six months to export their produce following a decision by the state to prolong the grace period. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja announced the extension in response to appeals from both senators and the farming community. The extension aims to allow for more public participation in the decision-making process regarding the future of macadamia exports.
The Senate Agriculture Committee, led by Kirinyaga Senator James Murango, played a key role in advocating for this extension. The move comes after the initial lifting of an export ban, which was set to expire on November 2, was met with significant concern from farmers. These concerns were rooted in the losses experienced due to low market prices and the impact of global market fluctuations, including those caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Under Section 43 of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013, the export of macadamia nuts is regulated, requiring authorization from the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture. The current policy aims to encourage local processing and manufacturing, addressing concerns that raw exports primarily benefit foreign processors, particularly in China.
Despite these regulations, the Senate Agriculture Committee has pushed for an extension, highlighting the potential for farmer losses if the ban were reimposed during the harvest season. There is also a call for further public participation to explore the possibility of a more permanent lifting of the ban, reflecting the interests of the farming community.
Kenya's macadamia industry encompasses approximately 200,000 small-scale farms across various counties, contributing to about 20 percent of the global supply. The sector's growth is evidenced by the increasing number of processing companies within the country, aiming to capitalize on the high global demand for macadamia nuts.
Source: The Star