Govt halts harvesting and trade of Macadamia until February 2026
The government has announced a nationwide suspension of macadamia harvesting and trade until February 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Director General, Bruno Linyiru, said that harvesting and trading the products shall not be permitted from December 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026.
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“The Authority hereby notifies all macadamia value chain actors (including but not limited to processors, exporters, importers, and marketing agents) that harvesting and trade of domestically produced macadamia nuts shall not be permitted from 1st December 2025 to 15th February 2026,” the statement read in part.
According to the authority, the decision was made after the authority conducted a survey in macadamia production zones across the country and established that the crop is still undergoing physiological development.
“The seasonal export closure is intended to allow adequate time for the crop to attain full maturity and to ensure that all exports meet the required quality standards. The ban on the export of raw, in-shell macadamia nuts remains in force,” Linyuru said.
Are there benefits?
AFA noted that the seasonal closure will allow the cash crop to attain full maturity, ensuring that all exports of the product meet the necessary standards.
The authority has, however, affirmed that the ban on the export of raw, in-shell macadamia nuts is still in force.
“Through the Nuts and Oils Directorate, the Authority has been implementing measures to align harvesting and processing practices on macadamia maturity trends, to safeguard kernel quality, oil content, and shelf life, essential to sustaining Kenya’s reputation for premium macadamia quality,” the statement read.
Macadamia nuts are among Kenya’s most valuable cash crops, providing income to thousands of smallholder farmers, especially in the central and eastern regions of the country.
Products made from macadamia nuts include edible items like roasted and flavoured nuts, nut butters and it is an ingredient for snacks, cookies, and chocolates. Non-food products include macadamia oil for cooking and cosmetics, as well as other products like animal feed and charcoal from shells.
In Kenya, the main macadamia production counties like Embu, Meru, Kiambu, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyeri. Other emerging production areas include counties in the Rift Valley like Uasin Gishu and Nandi, Machakos, and Taita Taveta.
