There is a glimmer of hope for Macadamia farmers in Manyatta Constituency in Embu after the area Member of Parliament (MP) Mr. Gitonga Mukunji lobbied for formation of an aggregation center that will give the farmers better bargaining powers.
Farmers in the area had for a long time complained of poor pricing of the product by brokers with one kilogram going for Sh 20.
The MP who spoke at Rianjagi Farmers’ Society Limited at Mutunduri, Manyatta Constituency during a macadamia farmer’s meeting, stated that the formation of an aggregation center for macadamia farmers will give the farmers more bargaining powers to negotiate for better prices.
He said that he has consolidated a database of up to 1,500 macadamia farmers in Manyatta Constituency adding that he has also been able to bring together agricultural professionals in the constituency to offer advice to macadamia farmers as well as help lobby for reforms in macadamia farming in Manyatta.
The MP pointed out that formation of a Macadamia Growers Association will be vital to farmers as they will be able to receive advice and training organized by the farmers group.
Initially the Government had banned the exportation of raw macadamia to foreign markets and insisted on exporting ready processed macadamia.
The legislator praised the Government for having banned the exportation of raw macadamia to foreign markets saying that it was a great initiative by the Government to enable the processing of raw macadamia in Kenya as it creates employment.
Mukunji further said he will be tabling a Macadamia bill in parliament that seeks to put in place the formation of Macadamia Board of Kenya (MBK), a body that will be entrusted with the marketing of macadamia, lobby for resources to improve macadamia farming and also seek for ways to improve macadamia farming in Kenya.
Agricultural Foods Authority (AFA) members lauded the MP for lobbying for establishment of a macadamia aggregation center in Manyatta saying that it will enable the farmers to have more bargaining powers.
“The formation of a macadamia aggregation center will be the first and great milestone to macadamia farmers because when buyers come to purchase the product from the farmers, they will find farmers who have better bargaining power,” said Mr. George Muthathai, AFA board member.
The AFA board member said that a macadamia database has already been created and more farmers are continuing to register.
Mr. Bernard Ndwiga a macadamia farmer in Manyatta asked the MP to fully support macadamia farmers in the county and help them eliminate brokers in the chain.
Another farmer Mr. Martin Muremi lauded the MP’s initiative to form an aggregation center for macadamia adding that the move will help the farmers get good prices for their produce and also will help eliminate the brokers that have been taking advantage of macadamia farmers by buying a kilogram of their produce at as low as Sh 20.
By Justus Anzaya
