Nut farmers in Kenya unite

Published Sep 15, 2021

Tridge summary

Over 600 macadamia nut farmers in Tigania East and West, Meru County, have formed a cooperative society to combat exploitative brokers and improve low farm gate prices. The cooperative aims to aggregate over 500 tonnes of nuts per season, potentially generating over Sh50 million. Current prices range from Sh80 to Sh100 per kilo, with expectations of rising to Sh150 per kilo during the small crop in October and November. However, due to processors' closed buying centres, farmers fear brokers will manipulate prices. The farmers have experienced low prices since the pandemic, with proper storage being a challenge. The department of Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives is partnering with Agriculture and Livestock Development to set up aggregation centres with storage facilities to assist farmers.

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Original content

At least 600 macadamia nut farmers in Tigania East and West in Meru County have formed a cooperative society to kick exploitative brokers out of the sector. The farmers have vowed to lock them out by use of the cooperative that is expected to pool over 500 tonnes of nuts each season. With processors currently buying a kilo at between Sh80 and Sh100, the farmers' produce will be worth over Sh50 million. There are prospects of the sector rebounding during the "small crop" in October and November, with prices expected to hit Sh150 a kilo when the main harvesting season starts early next year. However, with the current situation where processors shut their buying centres and are relying on middlemen, farmers fear brokers are likely to manipulate farm gate prices and pocket most of the money. Meru Macadamia Farmers Association chairman Joshua Muriira said farmers had woken up to the reality that the government was not keen on championing the rights of the farmers, saying after years of ...

Source: All Africa