Professional Macadamia Farming in Kenya: Full Guide

Have you noticed that there is renewed energy in macadamia production by farmers in Kenya? This is because the agribusiness trends in the country are nowadays influenced a lot by the export market.

Macadamia farming activities in Kenya

The demand for these nutritious nuts and their products is on a sharp rise worldwide. Our country is reacting by exporting more of the produce; that is why processing companies have set up shop in Murang’a, Embu, Taita Taveta and now expanding to Bungoma.

Is this the right time to invest in Macadamia farming?

Yes, this is actually the best time to invest in commercial production of this brown gold. So far, the country has over 30 industries buying the nuts from farmers. Most of them simply process the produce for export. That means there is now ready market for your produce.

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And it is a fact that the farmers currently producing macadamia in Kenya do not have the capacity to satisfy the demand from these processing companies. That is why the price is currently on an upward trend.

How long does grafted macadamia take to mature?

Grafted macadamia trees start fruiting after 2 years and reach an economic production in the third year. At this time, a tree would give you 20 to 30 kilos of nuts per harvest. The production increases steadily over time and by the 7^th year, each tree should give an average of 100 kilos per harvest. Buy grafted macadamia seedlings from Richfarm Kenya.

The rate at which your tree grows and reaches maturity (full production) is also dependent on how well you water it and feed it with the right minerals. Macadamia trees require a lot of water especially in the hot areas since they have a high transpiration rate – losing water through the leaves.

Where are macadamia best grown in Kenya?

Macadamia nuts are mainly grown in the central part of Kenya such as Muranga, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu and Meru. These are the places that the tree was first introduced when it came into Kenya. With time, the tree has spread to other areas of the country such as Bungoma, Kakamega, Kitale, Machakos and Taita Taveta.

Macadamia trees, especially the Muranga 20 variety, are highly adaptive to different climatic conditions. As such, they can be grown in most parts of the country. However, the cooler and rainy areas seem to be more favorable. The key ingredient in successful macadamia farming in the lower parts of Kenya is irrigation. The trees will need a significant amount of water especially when they are young in order to grow well.

How much do macadamia nuts fetch in the Kenyan market?

While macadamia are the most expensive nuts in the world, it is unfortunate that Kenyan farmers are not yet being paid fairly for their raw nuts. A kilo of the nuts was bought at the highest price of Ksh 230 at the close of the harvesting season in 2019. This is much lower compared to what farmers in other places in the world get. For example, farmers in Australia earn as much as Ksh 600 per kilo of raw nuts.

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Macadamia Prices in Kenya to Possibly Climb Over Ksh 200 Per Kg In 2020

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So is macadamia farming in Kenya profitable?

Well, the macadamia farmers in Kenya still make some good amount of money as profits. We could do a quick calculation here: Mature macadamia trees produce an average of 100 kilos per year. An acre holds about 80 trees hence a total production of 8000 kilos per acre in a harvest. If this farmer sells their produce at an average of Ksh 150 per kilo, he will have a turnover of Ksh 1.2 million. The cost of maintaining a mature macadamia orchard will hardly get beyond Ksh 100,000 so the farmer has a cool million to walk home with.

How much water do macadamia trees need?

In Kenya, farmers essentially produce macadamia without ever having to irrigate them. But of course you know what that means: their yields are always below the optimum.

For optimum production, a macadamia tree will need at least 40 liters of water every day throughout the flowering and fruiting period. Irrigation should be stopped when the nuts mature to allow them to harden off. This is a critical fact that anyone seeking to commercially produce macadamia in hot areas that have rains below 800 mm annually.

Which is the best macadamia variety in Kenya?

We consider Muranga 20 the best variety of macadamia in Kenya. This is because it adapts well to both cool and hot climates and yield just as high in whichever climate you plant it. The nut quality and weight is also higher compared to other varieties. Its vigorous growth also means that the farmer does not have to wait for so long before getting their first fruits.

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Macadamia farming is rather a secure form of investment: it will call on your attention less often than most other crops and is definitely a life-long income generator. We have helped a good number of people establish their macadamia farms and you can also reach us on 0724698357 to have yours started.

Why Farmers Make More Money With The New Muranga 20 Macadamia Variety

Macadamia farmers in Kenya were a happy lot last year (2019) as the prices went to a high of Sh200 per kilo. But some farmers were smiling more than others. You know which ones those are? They are the farmers who have planted the Muranga 20 variety (MRG-20).

Muranga 20 macadamia nuts: The variety gives high quality nuts

This variety is the best for anyone intending to do commercial macadamia farming anywhere in Kenya. It’s most important advantage is its ability to adapt to any climatic conditions; it can be planted in tea growing areas with an altitude above 1700 m such as Kericho and Meru and thrive just as well as it would in a low altitude area such as Taita Taveta.

Buy Murang'a 20 macadamia seedlings from Richfarm Kenya.

According to Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, KALRO, Murang’a 20 macadamia variety is best suited for marginal coffee growing areas with an altitude between 1400 m and 1550 m, and average annual rainfall of over 850 mm and a mean temperature of 20℃ to 21℃.

In these areas, a mature tree produces quality nuts with a yield reaching 100 kgs per tree.

Muranga 20 is fast maturing

Forget the days when you would have to wait for more than 7 years to see your first few nuts. With grafted and certified seedlings of this variety you start harvesting in the third year, each tree giving about 20 kilos of nuts. You can get these seedlings for sale at Richfarm Kenya, Embu nursery or call 0724698357 to have them delivered to your farm.

A bunch of Muranga 20 Macadamia nuts growing Kenya

The recommended spacing for macadamia trees is 8×8 m with which an acre accommodates about 70 trees. However, due to the fast maturing nature of grafted Muranga 20 seedlings, some farmers plant them with a spacing of 4×4 m, getting about 260 trees in an acre.

Such farmers enjoy 4 times the yield compared to those who start off with the recommended 8×8 m spacing, for about 10 years. During this time, the farmers maintain the trees’ productivity and health through regular pruning. When the trees grow very big forming canopies that prevent proper orchard aeration, the farmer then thins off the trees by removing the weak, diseased or unproductive ones.

High Quality Nuts

The Nut Traders Association of Kenya (NUTAK) chairman is on record saying they are ready to pay as high as ksh300 per kilo of macadamia if the farmers produce quality nuts.

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This is something that farmers can well achieve by planting Muranga 20. Due to its vigour in growth and its ability to adapt to the climate, this variety produces high quality nuts irrespective of how the weather turns out.

Varieties such as Kiambu 3 and Embu 1 are high producers but need a lot of water to give high quality nuts. In case of reduced rains, farmers with these varieties are forced to irrigate or risk losing out in the market because of quality issues.

High profit

Now with over 30 registered buyers of raw macadamia in Kenya, macadamia farming is no longer a risky bet. It is a sure investment option. Richfarm Kenya have a package in which you invest Ksh40,000 in an acre of macadamia. They will plant and take care of 80 trees for 3 months to ensure they are well established.

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Since macadamia trees have a lifespan of over 100 years, this becomes a lifetime investment from which you earn without much involvement since the trees are hardy and do not demand daily attention as is with short term crops.

Murang’a County Makes Bill To Protect Avocado Farmers

Hass avocado farmers contracted by Sasini: Sasini is a major player in Avocado farming in Kenya

Hass avocado farming has become an important economic activity in Kenya with the country being ranked as the third largest exporter of the fruit in the world and the first in Africa.

Murang’a County has been one of richest avocado farming areas in the country and now becomes the first to formulate a bill that will lock out unscrupulous brokers and cartels and protect the farmers of the green gold.  

Through the proposed law, The County Avocado Production and Marketing Bill 2020, the county government of Murang’a will create a department that will regulate the avocado farming sector through registration and licensing of fruit buyers and other key players in the value chain.

How farmers will benefit

The proposed law seeks to give the county government the powers to impose a total ban on avocado harvesting by defining harvesting dates. This will protect immature fruits from being harvested. Immature fruits have been hurting the reputation of Kenyan avocado in the international market and affecting the price of the produce.

According to the draft, all avocado buyers in the county will be forced to pay farmers according to the grade they produce rather than an average price per fruit as they have been doing.

The bill also proposes that all avocado farming contracts designed for the farmers must be vetted by the county government. This will ensure that the farmers’ rights are not violated by the buying companies.

All nursery operators will be required to buy seedlings from producers that have been approved by the county government. With this, the farmers will be sure that they are getting quality seedlings.

The taskforce created to enforce this law will have the power to arrest and prosecute anyone who flaunts these regulations. If found on the wrong, one will face a fine of Sh2 million or a jail term not exceeding two years.

Why Macadamia Is the Cash Crop to Farm in Kenya in 2023 and Beyond

A few years back, no one could imagine that macadamia farming in Kenya would one day be as rewarding as it is now. A few macadamia trees would stand in homesteads essentially to provide shade only. Every season, children would crack a few of the nuts that fell off the trees and then leave the rest to rot away.

Fast forward to the period between 2015 and 2020 and the economics and trade around this crop have dramatically changed. The brown nuts that were being left rot are now gold, fetching as high as Ksh 220 per kg in 2019.

Macadamia farming in Kenya

Why macadamia prices are on the rise

Over 95% of all the macadamia nuts produced in Kenya are sold in the export market. Europe and China are the largest importers of Kenyan macadamia and part of the produce is also being sold in the USA. These markets are lucrative and their demand for the nuts is insatiable.

Currently, there are over 30 macadamia processing companies in Kenya all competing to buy the few nuts that the Kenyan farmers are producing. Most of the produce is actually from the few trees that were planted many years back. 

Although there is a significant increase in the number of farmers who have taken up commercial farming of macadamia in Kenya, the production is still way below the demand by the processing companies, and the competition has seen the prices soar up fast.

In the previous years, farmers gave absolutely no attention to macadamia trees. As a result, when the market for the nuts started opening up, the quality of the produce getting to the factories was low. Now that the farmers have seen the profitability of this crop, they have turned their attention to improving quality. Prices have then risen to be commensurate with the rising quality.

Buy grafted macadamia seedlings to start your farm and get guidance from Richfarm Kenya.

Demand for Kenyan macadamia continues to increase abroad

The global macadamia market is projected to grow by 6.6% between this year 2020 and the year 2025 according to global market intelligence firm Mordor. This is because there is an increasing number of consumers who now prefer the nuts as a healthy snack as opposed to junk and fast foods.

Macadamia nuts are also used in the food industry, especially in the production of confectionaries. By the way, my best chocolate is the one with nuts inside and if you have eaten this type, you perfectly understand why.

The nuts are also used in the production of beverages, cosmetics and personal care products.

Why macadamia farming is the business of the moment

Many parts of Kenya have an ideal climate for growing macadamia. It is a thriving crop in Murang’a, Embu and Meru and it is now spreading to Bungoma and Taita Taveta Counties through the effort and support by their county governments.

Macadamia farming is not delicate: there are no strict spray programs and no harassing pests and diseases. It is one of the least labour intensive types of farming. A farmer mainly requires manure and water and occasional pruning which doesn’t need a high level of skill.

With the national government keen on developing macadamia farming as a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya, the future is looking bright. China is an emerging market and Kenya is making efforts to capture this market in an effort to balance the value of imports from China with exports to the country.

If you would like further information about macadamia farming in Kenya, call us on 0724698357 or email info@richfarmkenya.com. We are always happy to serve you. 

Also read:

- Why Macadamia Farming in Kenya is the Most Profitable Long-Term Investment Avenue

- Macadamia Prices in Kenya to Possibly Climb Over Ksh 200 Per Kg In 2020

- Macadamia Nuts Farming In Kenya: How to Make It a Highly Profitable Business

Why Solo Sunrise Is the Most Popular Pawpaw Variety in Kenya and the World

As pawpaw farming and consumption in Kenya increases, farmers and consumers of the fruit now have the luxury of choosing the best among the several varieties available in the country. It is not surprising to see that solo sunrise variety has emerged as the most popular since this is also the trend all over the world. But do so many people love these small papayas?

Solo Sunrise pawpaw farm belonging to Agatha in Ishiara, Embu County

Outstanding characteristics of solo pawpaw

1. Ideal size

Actually, the small size of the fruits of the solo sunrise pawpaw variety is one of the reasons why it is loved. Each fruit is about 250-500g. That makes it ideal for someone to consume the entire fruit in one sitting. Would you want to eat a pawpaw fruit that was cut yesterday? Of course not; so if you were to choose, you would most likely take the small fruit.

2. Very sweet

Honestly, I am yet to taste a variety of pawpaw that is sweeter than solo sunrise here in Kenya. Before this variety was imported into the country, mountain pawpaw used to be the people’s choice. However, no one ever goes back to mountain pawpaw after tasting the solo sweetness.

3. Red attractive colour

Is it just me who finds red to be more attractive than yellow? Certainly not, especially when it comes to fruits. Just imagine walking into a fresh fruit joint where they have prepared fruit puddings: in one package they have used yellow pawpaw and in another they have red pawpaw pieces. Which one would you go for? Many people make their choices from what they see and that is one reason the solo pawpaw is popular world over.

Solo sunrise pawpaw fruits: Harvested by John Tembo in Lusaka, Zambia

4. The long shelf life

Nothing is heartbreaking as picking a pawpaw you are so eager to munch only for your fingers to go right into the fruit flesh. Well that is a disappointment you won’t get with solo sunrise. These fruits have a firm flesh and ripe fruits will remain good for consumption for as long as 14 days. Of course this is something that is subject to temperatures as fruits tend to ripen faster in hot areas.

Solo Sunrise Is Popular Among Farmers Too

The solo variety is an impressive performer in the farm. Consumers are lucky that it serves them right; otherwise farmers would have pushed it down their throats. This variety has all the characteristics a farmer would want in a pawpaw:

1. It bears many fruits

One solo pawpaw tree can carry over 100 fruits in a year. That means money, and a lot of it, for the farmer, especially if they are selling their produce per piece. It also assures the farmer a constant weekly harvest because at least one fruit will be ripening within a week. Varieties with big fruits have fewer fruits per tree and these fruits a long take time to ripen and when they ripen, there is an overproduction.

Solo sunrise pawpaw farming in Kenya: Agatha in Embu County

2. Production is throughout the year

The solo variety does not produce fruits in seasons. Once you start harvesting, you will have a constant supply of fruits every week. This is better realized when you are irrigating your trees during the very dry season.

3. The trees are hardy and with a long lifespan

There was an interesting reaction the other day when I posted a photo on Facebook with a hammock tied on pawpaw trees. Many people did not imagine a pawpaw tree could be strong enough to support a hammock. Well, the solo sunrise pawpaw tree is. This hardiness is also realized in pest and disease resistance. And because of this characteristic, the trees can live and produce fruits for over 4 years.

4. Solo sunrise variety does not have male trees

This is a self-pollinating variety. That means all the trees produce edible fruits. That is why the production of this variety of pawpaw in terms of tonnage per acre is higher than the other varieties that have both male and female trees and you have to keep some male trees in your orchard for pollination.

I know the question in your mind now is “where can I get solo sunrise fruits?” or “where can I get the seeds so I can plant for myself?” Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered on that and all you need to do is Contact Us. We also have ready seedling for planting and you can call or WhatsApp us on 0724698357 to order. If you want guidance on pawpaw farming, go to our Farmers Resources Page and download a FREE pawpaw farming guide in pdf. 

Also Read:

1. How To Choose The Best Pawpaw Variety For Farming In Kenya in 2020

2. Pawpaw farming in Kenya: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Macadamia Prices in Kenya to Possibly Climb Over Ksh 200 Per Kg In 2020

Macadamia Production In Kenya FILE PHOTO-NMG

The harvesting season is set to start in February and the already lucrative macadamia farming agribusiness sector has all indications of rewarding the nut farmers in Kenya even more this year (2019)

At the start of the harvesting season last year, the Macadamia Farmers Association of Kenya had announced a farm-gate price of Ksh170 per kg. This was the price that had been reached at in a meeting between the farmers association and the Agriculture and Food Authority.

However, the Nuts Processors Association of Kenya (NutPAK) seemed to disagree with the price saying that it was speculative given the quality of nuts that the farmers were supplying at the time, and the fact that major macadamia nut buyers had not started buying.

Quality a major determinant of macadamia prices in Kenya

Nut Traders Association of Kenya (Nutak) chairman Johnson Kihara commenting on the issue said, “We were ready to buy them at even Sh300 a kilo but AFA does not control quality as expected. We cannot buy low quality nuts at such a price because we will not get a market for them.”

But by the close of the harvesting season in 2019, the price of a kilo of macadamia had climbed to Ksh 230.

The Macadamia Farmers Association of Kenya has its foot on the ground in advocating for better prices saying the farmers have been exploited for long. The buyers are yielding to the pressure saying the only thing limiting the prices macadamia farmers in Kenya are paid is quality.

“We sell over 98 percent of our macadamia to global markets. Our buyers dictate quality. If we don’t adhere to best practices in this highly competitive market we will be edged out,” said Mr. Muigai, the NutPAK executive officer.

Improved Macadamia Varieties

The awareness on the importance of producing high quality macadamia nuts to fetch better prices has been rising among farmers. Many are now replacing old trees with improved varieties such as Muranga 20.

Read Macadamia Nuts Farming In Kenya: How to Make It a Highly Profitable Business

Regulations have also been put in place to prevent harvesting of immature nuts. The farmers, having realized that such regulations are meant to protect them, are towing the line and thereby producing high quality nuts. With this trend, the prices will be much higher than Ksh 200 per kg this year.

Also read Why Macadamia Farming in Kenya is the Most Profitable Long-Term Investment Avenue

Miriti’s Ksh720,000 Per Month Plan From Pawpaw Farming in Meru Starts Paying Off

Pawpaw farming in Meru: Photo by PHOEBE OKALL

A careful observation of the pawpaw farming business in Meru, Eastern Kenya, is what triggered a curious study of the crop by one former chemist Howard Miriti. He had observed that middle-men constantly combed the villages in the rather dry part of the country buying pawpaw fruits from small scale farmers.

This trend made him realize that there must be a lucrative business in selling the fruits so he decided to test the waters. He started by planting 1,000 trees of the Solo sp variety. His choice of variety was largely influenced by the market demand and previous experience of the farmers in his region. During his research, he had discovered that the buyers preferred the solo and mountain pawpaw, both of which were performing very well in the warm Igembe climate.  

Pawpaws in Meru mature within 9 months

He had also been told that the solo sp pawpaw variety matures within 9 months and true to it, he made his first harvest in December having sown his seeds in March. At the time Enterprise was interviewing him, he was in his third week of harvesting and he was getting 500 to 600 kg per week.

“The pawpaw trees will get to their optimum production in April. From then, I expect to harvest at least a kilo from each tree per week. This kind of harvest will continue for the next two years before productivity starts declining,” he said.

A pawpaw tree gives 1 kilo per week

Having observed the success of the first crop, Miriti rolled out the project on a 6 acre land planting over 6000 trees in total. He has a target: he estimates that upon maturity, each of the trees would give him 1kg every week, which adds up to a total of 6,000kg from the entire farm.

Miriti, like the other farmers in his area, sells the fruits to the middle-men at a price of Ksh 30 per kg.

“I don’t have the time to look for a market for my pawpaw so I sell to buyers who are always here searching for the fruits,” he says and adds, “So far, 3 serious buyers have come to my farm, assessed the fruits and are now competing to buy them.”

If all his plans turn out as envisioned, it means he will be selling 24 tons of pawpaw every month making a turnover of ksh720,000.

What will be his Profit?

Miriti says that pawpaw farming in Meru is not labour intensive: the main activities at the farm are weeding and irrigation. However, he has a unique challenge at the farm – baboons from the neighboring Meru National Park. Because of this, his workers have to wake up at dawn to start patrolling the farm before the primates make their loot.

He now employs 6 labourers and a manager who has previous experience in pawpaw farming. He pays the 6 labourers Ksh6,000 each while the manager is paid Ksh15,000 per month. He also spends approximately Ksh24,000 per week on fuel for pumping water to irrigate the 6 acre farm.

We did a calculation and approximated his expenses at about Ksh 147,000 per month. Of course it is higher than that because he did not factor in occasional pest control and other miscellaneous expenses. However, he certainly will make something in the rage of Ksh500,000 in monthly profit if his plan goes as anticipated.

Pawpaw farming guide for Kenya

Pawpaw farming is one of the most profitable agribusiness projects in Kenya. We have collected our experiences and information on it and compiled this comprehensive guide. We also constantly edit it to match the changing realities on the ground. 

If you would want to invest in it, we would love to guide you through. Reach us on 0724698357.

You can also get this comprehensive pawpaw farming guide that will guide you right from planting of the seeds through the growth period to harvesting and marketing.

Download your copy from our Farmer's Resources Page. Al the farming guides on the Richfarm Kenya website are free.