AFA monitoring Macadamia markets to stop harvest of immature nuts

Speaking in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Director General Bruno Linyiru said AFA wants farmers to organize into groups, enabling processors to buy directly from them, eliminating brokers.

"We're preparing to open the market on February 15, 2026. We're focusing on quality, ensuring our crops meet consumer standards," he said. Linyiru added that harvesting immature crops compromises quality, and AFA is consulting stakeholders.

"Our team is assessing farm crops, and we're discussing with processors to ensure they buy all the macadamia produced, saying the same approach applies to avocados, ensuring only quality produce is sold."

Macadamia farmers in Kirinyaga county had been faulting the government for a temporary ban on the harvesting and trading of locally produced nuts from December 1 2025, to February 15, 2026, to allow crops to mature for quality standards.

They have expressed concerns, saying they are depending on macadamia nuts and they will experience big losses.