The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has issued a stern warning to macadamia industry players engaging in illegal activities that threaten the country’s lucrative trade in the sector. AFA Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru has stated that the authority is prepared to take legal action against individuals and companies violating industry regulations.
A recent routine surveillance by AFA uncovered increasing cases of malpractices that are disrupting the supply chain and compromising product quality. Among the most pressing issues are the harvesting, handling, trading, and processing of immature macadamia nuts, as well as unauthorized trading by unlicensed individuals, particularly marketing agents.
Dr. Linyiru emphasized that those found engaging in these illegal activities will face severe legal consequences. “Individuals or companies found engaging in the harvesting, trading, or processing of immature nuts, operating without a valid license, or discharging rejected/poor-quality nuts back into the supply chain, or smuggling nuts out of the country will face strict legal action, including license suspension or revocation and criminal prosecution,” he warned.
To ensure compliance with industry standards, AFA has announced plans to intensify surveillance efforts. This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with County Governments and law enforcement agencies, targeting macadamia-growing and trading regions, aggregation stores, processing facilities, and exit points.
The crackdown comes as Kenya seeks to maintain its standing as a top global producer of macadamia nuts. Industry stakeholders, including farmers, traders, processors, and exporters, have been urged to adhere to existing regulations to safeguard the sector’s reputation and ensure long-term profitability.
“We urge all stakeholders—farmers, traders, processors, and exporters—to adhere to the relevant regulations and standards to protect the reputation, sustainability, and profitability of Kenya’s macadamia industry,” Dr. Linyiru added.
This is not the first time the government has intervened to protect the sector. In October last year, the agriculture ministry suspended macadamia harvesting until March 2024 in an effort to curb the export of immature nuts, a move aimed at stabilizing the industry and protecting farmers from exploitative pricing.
As global demand for Kenyan macadamia continues to rise, authorities remain committed to ensuring that only high-quality nuts enter both the local and international markets. The crackdown is expected to deter malpractice and reinforce Kenya’s position as a leading exporter of premium macadamia nuts. Stakeholders in the industry are now on high alert as AFA tightens regulations and monitoring efforts to uphold industry integrity.
