Kenya has lifted the ban on the sale and export of raw macadamia nuts for a period of 30 days, effective Wednesday.
The decision comes after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development identified the urgent need to clear existing stocks held by licensed processors and exporters across the country.
Andrew Karanja, the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, announced the development, stating that officials from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), which oversees the country’s crop sector, conducted thorough evaluations that led to this timely intervention.
“The intervention will enable verified stocks being held by various exporters to be cleared for export,” Karanja said in a statement from Nairobi, the nation’s capital.
The temporary measure is expected to provide relief to exporters who have been grappling with surplus raw macadamia nuts, which, due to the previous ban, could not be sold or shipped. This ban was initially imposed early last month as part of efforts to regulate the sector and ensure fair market practices.
Kenya is a notable player in the global macadamia market, ranking as the third-largest exporter of nut-in-shell and kernel macadamia behind South Africa and Australia, according to the World Macadamia Organization.
The lifting of this ban not only aids in stabilizing the local market but also offers an opportunity for Kenyan exporters to compete effectively on the international stage.
The 30-day window for raw macadamia nut exports could significantly bolster the country’s agricultural exports and support local livelihoods dependent on this lucrative cash crop.
