Macadamia farmers from the Mt Kenya region are advocating for a revision of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, specifically section 43, which currently prohibits the exportation of raw nuts. This legislation has been a point of contention, as it limits farmers to selling only processed nuts, thereby allegedly benefiting a limited number of processors through low purchase prices. The call for change was emphasized during a gathering in Sagana, Kirinyaga county.
In response to the farmers' grievances, which included significant losses and instances of nuts being sold for as low as Sh10 per kilogramme, the then Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi instituted a temporary suspension of the law until November of the following year. This move was aimed at providing relief to the farmers affected by market fluctuations due to global events and currency variances.
The suspension allowed for a diversification of processors buying the nuts, which reportedly stabilized the sector. Despite this, there is a push for permanent legislative change, with threats of protests should the government not act by the deadline. The potential for macadamia farming, with comparisons to higher earnings in countries like Rwanda, is highlighted as a missed opportunity under the current law.
There are calls for the government to not only revise the law but also to implement measures such as designated harvesting seasons to protect the quality of the produce. The overarching sentiment among farmers and association representatives is that the current regulations hinder their profitability and undervalue the crop's economic contribution. With over 60,000 tonnes of macadamia exported annually, stakeholders are urging for a more supportive legislative framework.
Source: The-Star