On April 11, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria exposed how macadamia farmers were losing millions of shillings to unscrupulous buyers.
The popular nut mainly grown for export is beloved mostly by farmers in the Central region, especially, in Murang'a, Kiambu, Embu, and Meru counties.
According to farming experts at Rich Farm Kenya, one acre of land can carry about 80 trees and each tree can produce about 100 kilos per year. Some farmers get between Ksh150 to Ksh230 per kilo. At Ksh230 per kilo, farmers stand to get Ksh1,840,000 per acre.
Meanwhile, the CS had suggested that farmers should sell at Ksh250 per kilo which would see them get Ksh2 million per year.
"40 Macadamia processors are buying Macadamia at Ksh20 per Kilo and selling at Ksh800 in international markets. We don't want Ksh800. We will be okay with Ksh250 per Kilo for our toiling farmers," the CS stated.
To deal with the shady buyers, Kuria lifted the ban on the exportation of raw macadamia for one year to attract foreign buyers.
"This will open the markets for competitiveness allowing farmers to sell to the highest buyers," he stated.
The export of raw macadamia had been banned by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Act of 2013.
Farming Process
The nut thrives best in well-draining soil, abundant sunlight, and a warm climate. The preferred temperature range for macadamia is between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius.
Macadamia nut orchards need to have a spacing of at least 10 by 10 metres to encourage more nut production and allow the branches to get enough sunlight.
"When the trees grow big forming canopies that prevent proper orchard aeration, the farmer then thins off the trees by removing the weak, diseased or unproductive ones," Rich Farm Kenya advised.
Some of the extra costs to a macadamia farmer include land preparation, seedlings, fertilisers and pesticides, labour, and harvesting.
All farmers are advised to keep track of the tree seedlings right from the nursery before they are transported to where they need to be planted.
Additionally, since the tree has a lifespan of over 40 years, the farmer is guaranteed profits for a long time.
