Macadamia nuts industry players risk penalties for malpractices

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) is threatening to take legal action on macadamia nuts industry players engaging in illegal activities which could hurt the country’s trade in the sector.

AFA Director General Dr Bruno Linyiru says a routine surveillance by the authority has revealed rising cases of malpractices which also compromise the the supply chain.

Among rising malpractices which the authority seeks to address include harvesting, handling, trading, and processing of immature macadamia nuts as well as unauthorized trading of nuts by unlicensed individuals, particularly marketing agents.

“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 of nuts out of the country will face strict legal action, including license suspension/revocation and criminal prosecution,” warns Dr Linyiru.

AFA is now seeking to intensify surveillance in collaboration with County Governments and law enforcement agencies across macadamia-growing and trading regions, aggregation stores, processing facilities and exit points to ensure there is compliance.

“We urge all stakeholders—farmers, traders, processors, and exporter to adhere to the relevant regulations and standards to protect the reputation, sustainability, and profitability of Kenya’s macadamia industry,” he added.

In October last year,  agriculture ministry suspended the harvesting of macadamia nuts until March this year in a bid to protect the trade by curtailing export of immature nuts.