Kenya’s macadamia nut sector is heading into a critical phase after the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) announced the re-opening of the 2025/26 harvesting and trading window two weeks earlier than initially scheduled.
- •The seasonal closure, which had been in force from December 1, 2025 to February 15, 2026, was imposed to curb premature harvesting, a persistent problem that undermines kernel quality, oil content and shelf life.
- •The area under macadamia production rose to 9.3 thousand hectares in 2024, up from 8.8 thousand hectares in 2023.
- •According to the 2025 National Agriculture Production Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the country supplies nearly 20% of global macadamia demand, placing it among the world’s top producers.
Announcing the decision, the move followed extensive field surveillance and stakeholder consultations.
“The decision to re-open the window from February 1 is informed by maturity assessments that show most nuts in lower-altitude zones have reached physiological maturity,” AFA Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru said.
Between January 19 and 23, 2026, AFA conducted a targeted maturity surveillance exercise across major macadamia-growing counties. In lower-altitude, coffee-growing areas, many nuts had matured naturally, with some already dropping to the ground, a clear signal that harvesting could begin, provided farmers follow recommended post-harvest handling, including proper drying.
However, in higher-altitude, tea-growing zones, the picture was different. Most nuts were still immature, and premature harvesting in these areas would likely compromise quality.
“We are strongly urging farmers to harvest only mature nuts and allow immature ones to develop fully. Compliance is not optional, it is essential for sustaining farm-gate prices and long-term market access,” Dr. Linyiru emphasized.
The surveillance also showed that varietal differences matter, with some cultivars maturing earlier than others, a factor farmers are increasingly being encouraged to factor into their harvesting decisions.
For thousands of smallholder farmers, particularly in Central Kenya, the Rift Valley and parts of Western Kenya, macadamia is both a dependable income stream and a direct link to global value chains. While traditional strongholds such as Kiambu and Murang’a have seen acreage decline due to real estate pressure around Nairobi, counties west of the Rift Valley, including Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia, have recorded a surge in new plantings.
