MP calls for lifting of raw macadamia export ban

An MP wants Parliament to review the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Act 2013 (AFFA), which prohibits exports of raw agricultural produce such as macadamia, cashew nuts and pyrethrum.

Maragua MP Peter Kamande has petitioned the Parliament on behalf of concerned macadamia farmers seeking the repeal of section 43 of the AFFA Act which bans export of raw produce except with written authority from the Cabinet Secretary or with the approval of the National Assembly.

“Due to the said prohibition, macadamia farmers in the country are suffering and the macadamia industry is on the verge of collapsing,” he said.

Mr Kamande said with the collapse of coffee farming, macadamia has been the main source of income thereby ensuring financial stability of the farmers.

“Since 2004, farmers experienced a steady rise in macadamia prices from Sh10 to Sh50 per kilogramme and further that, the emergence of foreign investors in the year 2014 and 2015 led to rapid increase in prices to Sh130 per kilogramme,” he said in the petition that was committed to the Agriculture committee by Speaker Justin Muturi.

The MP said the implementation of the AFFA Act 2013 had led to the decrease in macadamia prices and deregistration of firms dealing with raw macadamia.

“The implementation of the Act has led to loss of employment and closure of business. Efforts to resolve the matter with relevant authorities have been fruitless,” he said.

“Therefore, your humble petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the departmental committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives, proposes amendments to the AFFA Act 2013 to provide for the sale of raw produce, in particular raw macadamia, and make any other order or direction that it deems fit in the circumstances of the case,” Mr Kamande said.

South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi supported the petition saying macadamia grows very well in regions where coffee thrives.

“As at now, coffee is on its knees. The only crop which has been assisting people where coffee is grown is macadamia,” he said.

Mr Murungi said there was another petition on macadamia which was brought to the House by Tigania West MP Mpuri Aburi and which the House made a decision on.

Tongaren MP Dr Eseli Simiyu said his constituents grow a lot of macadamia. “I come from Makhanga sub-location, Macadamia Village. The onset of this law (AFFA) has visited poverty among the people who grow macadamia in the sense that the returns have fallen so low that right now parents who solely relied on macadamia cannot get school fees for their children,” he said.

Mr Simuyu asked the Agriculture committee chaired by Mandera North MP Mohammed Noor to quickly look at the petition, so that MPs can review the injury that has been visited upon farmers.