• Ban forbids cashew nut farmers from exporting and selling the crop to external markets in what had been considered a move to revive local industries.
• Before the ban, a kilo of cashew nuts would go for over Sh80 but that has come down to Sh20 in the hands of middlemen.
@ppcheti
A 12-year-old export ban has brought the cashew nut sector in Lamu on the brink of collapse.
Lamu farmers have on numerous occasions appealed to the national government to lift the ban imposed in 2009 by then Agriculture Minister William Ruto.
The ban forbids cashew nut farmers from exporting and selling the crop to external markets in what was considered a move to revive local industries.
Before the ban, a kilo of cashew nuts would go for over Sh80 but that has come down to Sh20 in the hands of middlemen.
Only the National Cereals and Produce Board of Kenya can buy raw nuts from the farmers.
Large scale farmers have since cleared their trees and embarked on other ventures.
Coconut production has equally reduced to less than 60 per cent.
Lamu’s major cashew nut growing areas include Mpeketoni, Witu and Faza. The major challenge for farmers has been the lack of a ready market.
The national and county governments have reneged on promises to set up processing plants.
Mpeketoni farmer Joseph Kariuki traced their woes to 2009.
“Since then, the losses kept growing. Unfortunately, we never really got to see or benefit from the local markets as they had wanted. I quit and am now doing business,” Kariuki said.
Riziki Wanjiru of Witu said she is stuck with sacks of cashew nuts as there is no market.
“Most of the sacks are going bad and there is nothing I can do. It’s that bad. I intend to stop growing from this season,” she said.
From a previous population of over 10,000 cashew farmers, fewer than 3,000 are still farming.
Henry Wasio who turned to snail farming said the ban dashed their hopes and drowned the sector.
“I now find fulfillment in snail farming. I had to think of something that would bring in money now that farming is my livelihood,” Wasio said.
The farmers are, however, hopeful that if the ban is lifted, they will get back into business, saying foreign markets are a sure bet for better profits.
Edited by R.Wamochie