Gatanga MP Edward Muriu calls for review of ban on export of raw macadamia nuts

The legislator said the continued ban is not only economically emasculating  farmers and marketers, but also denying the country export earnings from the produce.

“As I said earlier in the case of avocados, my stand is that we should not have too many regulations or controls on agricultural products like macadamia nuts. The biggest consumers are China, United States and Europe and if they have no problem with the raw nuts, why should we impose a ban?” posed Muriu.

Last month, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the retention of the ban earlier imposed on exportation of raw in-shell nuts.

As a result, farmers and marketers are counting losses with dealers saying the prices of macadamia dropped drastically by upto Sh 60 per kilogram following the announcement towards the end of February.

Muriu who spoke to ‘The Informer’ in Thika, Kiambu County said the government’s position that farmers can only export processed macadamia nuts is inconsiderate and unfair to growers.

“If the government says we can only export processed nuts, how many processing plants has it established? This is not only unfair but also ridiculous,” blurted the lawmaker, pointing an accusing finger at a cartels whom he says are behind the move to exploit farmers.

He added; “Let the forces of demand and supply apply in a free market environment. Farmers who want to export their macadamia nuts raw should be allowed to do so and the same to apply to those who prefer to have the product processed first.”

According to Johnson Kihara, a farmers’ leader and exporter, the prices tumbled down from a high of Ksh 140 per kilogram to between Ksh 80 and Ksh 90, soon after Kagwe’s announcement.

“Farmers are very unhappy and worried about the future of macadamia growing as the government continues to gamble with the sector, which fetches the country Ksh 6 billion yearly in export earnings” said Kihara.

He noted that currently there are about 200 containers of macadamia nuts in stores that are yet to be licensed by the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) for export.

Kihara who is the Chairman Nut Traders Association of Kenya (NUTAK) says they continue to incur huge losses since AFA charges Ksh 54,000 for each of the 27-ton container as the impasse over the  exportation ban continues.