This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
Kenya's macadamia farmers are facing a tough time due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a significant drop in farm gate prices.
According to the farmers, the prices have plummeted from Sh200 last year to Sh50 currently, with many accusing nut processors of exploiting the situation to collude with brokers.
Meru Macadamia Farmers Association chairman Joshua Muriira said that the processors had suspended buying of the commodity in April, citing uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.
However, the farmers claim that the processors are still receiving nuts from brokers, despite closing their buying centres.
‘We have been informed that the processors are getting the produce from brokers despite closing their buying centres. This is the kind of exploitation we experienced about five years ago before Chinese buyers came into the market, which saw a rise in the prices,’ Muriira said.
Nuts Processors Association of Kenya executive officer Charles Muigai dismissed the farmers’ claims, saying that they were not buying nuts from brokers.
‘It is unfair for the farmers to accuse us of colluding with brokers yet we have maintained good prices when the industry was doing well. The sector has seriously been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with industries operating at below 30 percent capacity,’ Muigai said.
