NAIROBI, Kenya- The Kenyan government is willing to engage with macadamia processors and exporters, but only if they are ready to offer farmers higher earnings, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has affirmed.
Speaking at the opening of the Agricultural Society of Kenya Mombasa International Show, the Deputy President emphasized that any talks about stopping farmers from exporting raw macadamia products must come with guarantees of better pay for the farmers.
Macadamia processors have been pushing the government to prevent farmers from exporting raw nuts directly, arguing that this would benefit the local processing industry.
However, Gachagua made it clear that the government would only consider this if processors can assure minimum returns that are equal to or exceed what farmers currently earn—between Sh100 and Sh150 per kilogram.
“The Ruto Administration is open to discussing this issue,” Gachagua said. “But we will not accept any deal that shortchanges the farmers. We’ve agreed with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr. Andrew Karanja to engage processors as early as tomorrow.”
This move is part of the government’s broader strategy to protect farmers from exploitation and ensure they get the best value for their produce.
Gachagua also highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is crucial for maintaining Kenya’s access to the European coffee market.
The EUDR requires due diligence to prove that agricultural products like coffee, palm oil, and timber were not sourced from deforested land after December 2020.
The Deputy President stressed that this regulation complements ongoing reforms in the coffee sector, which aim to enhance traceability of the produce from farm to consumer.
“We have mobilized government agencies to set up a due diligence system and ensure our farmers comply by the December 30, 2024 deadline,” he said.
Kenya exports over 55pc of its coffee to the EU, and the country is aiming to increase exports from 48,000 MT in 2022/2023 to 60,000 MT by 2024/2025.
In line with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the government is focusing on sustainable farming to boost economic growth. Gachagua highlighted the need for climate-resilient technologies to address production challenges and improve yields.
