NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has ruled out lifting the months-long ban on the export of raw in-shell macadamia, saying the restriction is necessary to protect farmers and secure better prices for their produce.
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Kagwe emphasized that the ban, first imposed in November 2024 and extended in February, will remain in place to curb the premature harvesting of nuts and strengthen local processing.
“The ban will remain imposed to ensure farmers get competitive prices for macadamia and provide better opportunities,” Kagwe stated.
To further support farmers, the government is working with stakeholders to introduce a guaranteed minimum price of Ksh.100 per kilogram of macadamia.
Kagwe also urged macadamia farmers to form cooperatives, allowing them to negotiate better trading terms with local processors and exporters.
“Processors and exporters will enter into a contractual agreement with the farmers,” he said, stressing the importance of structured trade arrangements.
Additionally, farmers have been encouraged to register under the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management System (KIAMIS) to access government subsidies.
Kagwe also proposed the formation of a Macadamia Nuts Standing Committee to regulate farm gate prices and prevent exploitation.
Beyond macadamia, Kagwe highlighted ongoing reforms in the tea sector aimed at improving farmers’ earnings.
He announced plans to enforce the Tea (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 2025, targeting illegal hawking of green leaf, which has been blamed for lowering tea quality.
The government is also facilitating land allocation for a Common User Facility (CUF) at Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where joint ventures and public-private partnerships (PPPs) will be encouraged to boost value addition in tea processing.
Additionally, Kagwe revealed plans to establish a tea-tasting centre in Mombasa, which will serve as a quality control hub before exports.
