Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has reported that the seasonal restriction on harvesting and trading macadamia nuts will be lifted from 1 February 2026, allowing activities to resume before the originally scheduled end date.
The temporary ban, which ran from 1 December 2025 to 15 February 2026, was introduced to protect macadamia kernel quality, oil levels, shelf life, and Kenya’s standing in high-value international markets. According to the Authority, the decision followed concerns that a significant share of the crop in key producing regions had not yet reached full maturity.
AFA explained that the restriction was designed to give the crop adequate time to complete its physiological development. During the closure, all participants in the macadamia value chain were required to declare stocks harvested prior to the ban to aid monitoring and compliance efforts.
Throughout the restriction period, the Authority carried out regular inspections to assess crop maturity and address reported breaches in some growing zones. Between 19 and 23 January 2026, AFA undertook a focused maturity assessment across major macadamia-producing counties to determine readiness for harvesting.
The assessment revealed uneven maturity levels across different agro-ecological regions. Nuts grown in lower-altitude coffee zones had largely reached maturity, with some already falling naturally and requiring collection and drying. However, crops in higher-altitude tea-growing areas remained mostly immature. The survey also confirmed that maturity timelines vary depending on macadamia varieties, with certain types ripening earlier than others.
Based on these findings and following appeals from industry stakeholders, AFA approved the resumption of harvesting and trading from 1 February 2026. However, the Authority cautioned farmers and traders to harvest only fully matured nuts and allow immature produce to continue developing.
The Agriculture and Food Authority, established under the Agriculture and Food Authority Act of 2013, is responsible for the development, regulation, and promotion of Kenya’s nuts and oil crops sector.