Suspension of the law that bans the selling of unprocessed macadamia nuts has seen farmers reap big from their produce for the last two months.
Last year Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi through a gazette notice suspended section 43 of the Crops Act of 2013 that prohibits selling unprocessed nuts for one year.
Members of the Nuts Traders Association of Kenya have hailed the suspension of the law saying since December farm price of macadamia has gone up from as low as Sh20 to more than Sh100 per kilo.
The traders who were accompanied by some processors and farmers in a meeting held in Sagana, observed in January more than 1,000 tons of unprocessed macadamia were exported to Asian countries.
The association chairman Johnson Kihara revealed the law had affected many farmers since processed macadamia could not get better prices in the international markets.
He said some European countries which purchase processed nuts could not provide better markets thus leaving processors to hold nuts in their factories.
“Some processors still have processed nuts in their warehouse. The markets for processed nuts are not always there and we thank the agriculture CS for listening to us and suspending section 43 of the Crops Act of 2013,” he noted.
Kihara continued “Farmers currently are selling their nuts at not less than Sh. 100 since this was a set condition by the agriculture CS when he lifted the ban. But, it’s unfortunate some brokers are exploiting farmers by selling their macadamia below the set price. This can make the government impose the ban again.”
The chairman further castigated some processors who he claimed are planning to move to court and challenge Linturi’s decision terming them as enemies of farmers.
“Recently macadamia nuts were being hawked in towns, along roads or where there are gatherings. I wonder why some individuals want farmers to be exploited since there is a wide market for unprocessed nuts in some countries like China?” he posed.
On his part, the secretary general of the association John Ndirangu said they will continue to push for the repeal of the law that bans exporting of unprocessed macadamia nuts.
Ndirangu observed that the lifting of the ban for one year is a short-term relief for farmers who have been subjected to suffering after a drastic drop in the prices of the nut.
“Some farmers had even cut down their macadamia trees, the law has been a big challenge in the sector and as players in the nuts industry, and we want this law to be revoked for good.
“We challenge leaders from macadamia growing zones to push this matter in the parliament to assist farmers. Selling of unprocessed macadamia is fetching more income from some nations like China,” he stated.
John Njiru a macadamia farmer from Embu urged farmers not to fall prey to brokers who buy nuts at less than Sh. 100.
Njiru accused some brokers saying they have perpetuated stealing and selling of immature macadamia nuts.
“The government through the Agriculture Food Authority should do surveillance and apprehend those behind buying of immature nuts. Selling of low-quality macadamia will spoil our name in the international markets,” he averred.
A representative from AFA Kirangu Gathutha asked the traders to adhere to all conditions that were set by the government when it suspended the law.
He said no agent should buy macadamia from farmers at a price less than Sh. 100 and all the agents should be registered by AFA.
“Every agent who buys macadamia should be registered with AFA and should adhere to quality standards. No buying of immature nuts and as AFA we advocate for working together with agents, traders, processors, and exporters of Macadamia. This will be of great benefit to farmers,” he added.
AFA, he continued will have a framework to conduct surveillance and apprehend those contravening laws governing the production and marketing of macadamia.
“There are plans to establish a grading system which will ensure only quality nuts are exported to overseas countries,” Kirangu revealed.
By Bernard Munyao
