Self regulations in macadamia industry being developed

The Mountain Journal

editor@themountainjoural.co.ke

Self-regulations to control  the macadamia industry are being developed by AFA  with stakeholders asked to list down their concerns seeks the stakeholders inputs centered on improvement of quality, traceability of the product to  promote industry-led compliance, ethical conduct, and accountability within the macadamia value chain. 

The meeting will be held from today to Friday at Maanzoni Resort in Machakos County

NUTAK Chairman Johnson Kihara said the regulator  will this week host the players in a high profile meeting in Machakos as he warned of the need to harvest mature nuts,   to avoid compromising the quality of Kenya's quality.

“As we expect Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to suspend the section 43 of the AFA Act and allow the export of the Inshell Nuts, a lot of care is required among the dealers along the value chain,” said Kihara.

 In Kenya  it is estimated  there are more than 25,000 metric tonnes of macadamia nuts in the farmers and agents stores, after the processors expressed inability to process them.

Fielding questions  from the media, Kihara said,  following the persisting outcry from  farmers, the Kagwe ordered  for a survey that found there were more than 18,000 metric tonnes.

“ Once the six month period is allowed  the inshell nuts will be shipped to China, India, UAE, and Russia,” said Kihara

In a meeting, it leaked that the Macadamia Association of Kenya (MACNUT) operating processing plants was persuading farmers to supply their macadamia nuts through local coffee cooperative societies.

Mzee Patrick Nyaga Amos said he attended a meeting in Nyeri on Friday, where farmers rejected the scheme to join  cooperative societies,  designed to eradicate the licensed marketing agent from the value chain.

“ Let the CS shun playing divisive politics  and instead help the farmers have access to the markets instead of being misled by the business persons with ulterior motives,” said Nyaga.