The MACNUT Association of Kenya has responded to concerns from the Nut Traders Association of Kenya (NUTAK) about the Agriculture and Food Authority's (AFA) decision to restrict export licenses for raw macadamia nuts.
Kenya ranks as the fourth-largest global producer of macadamia nuts, holding a 13% market share. The sector is a key cash crop, contributing to foreign exchange and economic development, especially in employment and income for farmers. In 2023, production reached 45,000 tons of nut-in-shell (NIS), with projections of 63,000 tons by 2027.
On November 2, 2024, the Kenyan government reinstated a ban on unprocessed nut exports, aiming to enhance economic benefits through value-added processing. This policy supports job creation and higher revenues, while the export of nut-in-shell primarily benefits traders and limits job opportunities.
Issues like underreporting export volumes and collusion with farmers to sell substandard nuts have raised concerns about the integrity of the industry. Such practices harm Kenya's global reputation and diminish farmer earnings. Environmental impacts from drying unprocessed nuts also threaten local ecosystems and forest sustainability.
Jane Maigua, Chairperson of MACNUT, states, "The environmental impact of exporting unprocessed nuts is alarming." She emphasizes the need to maintain the export ban to protect local processing investments and sector growth.
MACNUT collaborates with the government to support farmers through direct sourcing, training, and access to high-yielding seedlings and credit options. These efforts aim to empower farmers and ensure fair compensation.
Maigua urges the government to uphold the raw export policy, stating, "If the ban is upheld, the processing and export of value-added macadamia nuts could contribute over USD 80 million to the Kenyan economy."
Source: Business Today