(Ecofin Agency) - Macadamia price reached a record level on Kenyan market due to an improvement of the nut’s quality.  Data from the country’s Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate show that the price per kilo of macadamia has  doubled to stand between KSh160 and KSH180 ($1.6 and $1.8),which represents an improvement from the KSh70 recorded in January.

According to Alfred Busolo, MD of Agriculture, Fishery and Food Authority (AFFA), this improvement is due to the withdrawal from the market, immature nuts and the tightening of the sale authorization system. According to the regulator, Kenyan producers have lost $6.7 million last year, due to the low quality of  nuts shipped to processors.

With an average production of 4000 tons per year, Kenya is currently the world's 5th largest supplier after Australia, South Africa, the USA, and Malawi. This sub-sector employs about 100, 000 producers, the nut is grown in Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Kiambu and Murang'a Counties.

Espoir Olodo