Just a month after the government banned Kenyan farmers from exporting poor-quality macadamia nuts, the Ministry of Agriculture has lifted the order.
In a notice to all farmers on Thursday, December 5, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Karanja Mwihia, announced that the ban has been lifted.
According to the CS, the decision to lift the ban followed an extensive review by his Ministry on some exporters who still had stocks of raw macadamia nuts in shell and export orders that were yet to be released.
''In view of the aforementioned, and in exercising the powers conferred to me by Section 43 of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013, I hereby authorise the export of raw (in-shell) macadamia nuts for a period of 30 days from the date of this notice,’’ Karanja said in a statement.
''From the exercise, it was found that some exporters had stocks of raw (in-shell) macadamia nuts and export orders that were yet to be serviced,'' he added.
However, the exporters have been given only 30 days to release their produce after which the ban is likely to be effected.
Additionally, the CS has directed all licensed processors who would wish to export their produce to apply for new licences before being allowed to export their produce.
''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 added.
According to the Ministry, the intervention to lift the ban will enable verified stocks being held by various exporters to be cleared.
The CS revealed in October that the ban on the export of macadamia nuts was mainly because the government wanted to ensure that only the best produce was exported from Kenya.
According to data from the Ministry, 95 per cent of the total annual production of macadamia nuts farmed locally is exported internationally. The Cabinet Secretary stated that a rapid industry assessment revealed that many local companies lack sufficient quality stocks for processing.
Additionally, the World Macadamia Organization data, shows that Kenya is the third largest nut-in-shell and kernel macadamia exporter, after South Africa and Australia.
