The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced the reopening of the macadamia harvesting season effective February 1, 2026, two weeks earlier than initially planned. The regulator has, however, issued a stern warning to farmers in high-altitude areas to hold off, citing maturity concerns.

The harvesting window was closed on December 1, 2025, to prevent the export of immature nuts, a practice that had begun to tarnish Kenya’s reputation in the global market. The ban was set to run until February 15, but intense lobbying by farmers and a favorable maturity surveillance report have prompted the early opening.

The Maturity Divide

"Our surveillance between January 19 and 23 revealed a tale of two zones," explained AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru. "In the lower coffee zones, the nuts have achieved full physiological maturity. However, in the tea zones, the crop is still green. We are opening the window, but we will be policing the tea zones aggressively."

This nuanced approach aims to balance the economic needs of farmers, who are desperate for cash flow, with the strategic imperative of maintaining quality. Kenyan macadamia is prized for its crunch and oil content, attributes that are lost when the nut is harvested too early.

• Crackdown on Brokers: The AFA has deployed enforcement teams to ensure that unscrupulous brokers do not raid farms in the high-altitude areas. "We know the cartels are waiting," said a source at the Ministry of Agriculture. "Any trader found with immature nuts will lose their license permanently."
• Market Stakes: Kenya remains a top global producer, but competition from Australia and South Africa is stiff. The early reopening is expected to release tonnes of nuts into the processing chain, providing a much-needed injection of forex earnings as the shilling battles volatility.

Farmers Relieved

For farmers in the central coffee belt, the news is a relief. "The nuts were falling on their own," said Mary Wanjiku, a farmer in Murang'a. "If we waited until the 15th, we would have lost 30% of our crop to rot and squirrels. The government has done the sensible thing."

As the season kicks off this Sunday, the focus now shifts to prices. Farmers are demanding better pay from processors, hoping that the high quality of the mature crop will translate into better returns per kilogram.