Kenya's Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced a temporary suspension of macadamia harvesting and trade from December 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The measure is intended to allow the crop to reach full maturity and maintain quality standards in both domestic and export markets.
The AFA, established under the Crops Act 2013, oversees the development, promotion, and regulation of scheduled crops across Kenya. Through its Nuts and Oils Directorate, the agency monitors macadamia production and processing to ensure kernel quality, oil content, and storage performance meet market expectations.
According to a recent phenological survey conducted across major macadamia-growing regions, a large share of the crop is still maturing. "This closure is necessary to guarantee that only fully developed nuts enter the market, preserving the premium quality for which Kenyan macadamia is known," the AFA said in a statement.
The authority has instructed all stakeholders, including processors, exporters, importers, and marketing agents, to comply with the temporary closure. The ban on exporting raw, in-shell macadamia nuts remains in effect.
AFA Director General Dr Bruno Linyiru said the authority will continue to assess crop maturity during the suspension period. "We will continue to monitor maturity trends and communicate any changes to the closure period in good time," he said.
Source: The Eastleigh Voice
