Macadamia farmers in Taita Taveta county have formed a cooperative society to boost production and access markets.
The farmers, mainly from Mwatate and Wundanyi subcounties, hope to increase the acreage of macadamia from current 300 hectares to 2,000 hectares to reduce the effects of climate change through increased forest cover.
Speaking during the launch in Wundanyi on Monday, Fisheries and Irrigation executive Davis Mwangoma said the macadamia cooperatives society will boost the economy and create job opportunities for residents.
“Teaming up together will help farmers increase productivity and get a new market for the produce. This is a way of empowering farmers,” Mwangoma said in an interview.
He also said the agriculture department has already distributed some 130,000 seedlings to more 10,000 farmers in the region.
With increased production, Mwangoma said the county is working on a plan to partner with other development agencies in establishing a macadamia processing plant in the area.
"We are working on having our own factory in this county since we produce the highest quality organic Macadamia in Kenya," he said.
Mwangoma further said the department is focusing on empowering farmers through value addition and access to the ready market.
Mwatate and Wundanyi are the leading producers of macadamia nuts in Taita Taveta with an estimated 18,000 farmers taking part in producing the nuts.
He encouraged more farmers to embrace macadamia farming, saying it is fast becoming the county top cash crop.
"Farming is now the next million dollar project that we should all embrace. One macadamia tree produces 100kg, and with a minimum of ten trees you will get one tonne per year."
The farmers asked the department to link them with the market , saying brokers exploit them and deny them bonuses.
"We sell our product through brokers and this is our greatest challenge as they dictate the market price," Agneta wakalo, who has been farming macadamia since 2000, said.
The price, she said, keeps on fluctuating every time thus denying them good returns.
A kilogramme of ripe macadamia nuts is currently trading between Sh160 and Sh170.
The launch comes barely days after the devolved unit inked a deal with the Cooperative University of Kenya, a move that will see the revamp of the cooperative movement in the county.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
