Macadamia Farming In Kenya; The Profitability Of The Sector
Macadamia farming in Kenya is mostly propagated from grafting, it has in recent time gained popularity in recent years due to the high demand for macadamia nuts both locally and internationally. Macadamia nuts are known for their high nutritional value, health benefits, and versatile culinary uses.
The trees prefer subtropical climates, though too much humidity can increase the risk of blossom blights. Temperatures should not fall below -1 degree Celsius or regularly rise above 35 degrees Celsius, since the low temperatures increase the risk of damage while the high temperatures reduce vegetative growth, increases premature nut drop, decreases nut growth and oil accumulation, and may cause leaf burn.
What is the cost of Macadamia production in Kenya?
The cost of macadamia production in Kenya can vary depending on various factors such as the size of the farm, labor costs, inputs used, and level of technology adopted. However, here are some general estimates of the cost of macadamia production in Kenya:
- Land preparation: This includes clearing and preparing the land for planting. The cost can range from Ksh. 30,000 to Ksh. 50,000 per acre.
- Seedlings: The cost of seedlings varies depending on the supplier, but on average, a seedling can cost between Ksh. 300 and Ksh. 500.
- Fertilizers and pesticides: These are essential inputs in macadamia production. The cost can range from Ksh. 20,000 to Ksh. 50,000 per acre, depending on the type of fertilizer and pesticide used.
- Labor: The cost of labor is a significant expense in macadamia production. It can range from Ksh. 20,000 to Ksh. 50,000 per acre, depending on the level of mechanization and the number of workers employed.
- Harvesting: The cost of harvesting macadamia nuts can vary depending on the method used. Manual harvesting can cost between Ksh. 30 and Ksh. 50 per kilogram, while mechanized harvesting can cost between Ksh. 10 and Ksh. 20 per kilogram.
Overall, the cost of macadamia production in Kenya can range from Ksh. 200,000 to Ksh. 400,000 per acre, depending on various factors. It is important to note that these are just estimates, and actual costs can vary depending on the individual farm’s circumstances.
How long does grafted macadamia take to mature in Kenya?
Grafted macadamia trees start fruiting after the third year and reach an economic production in the third year.
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.
Which are suitable regions for macadamia farming in Kenya
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 many kgs can one macadamia tree produce?
Generally a single macadamia tree produces around 40Kgs at its initial production stages, at around 7 years, the tree can produce 60-80Kgs of nuts per tree per year. During the tree peak production at 15+ years, the production can be as high as more than 180Kgs. The production can continue to more than 45 years.
What are the best conditions to grow macadamia in Kenya?
Macadamia prefer deep, well-drained soils that have a pH of 5.0 to 6.5, and require 60 to 120 inches of rainfall per year. They can be grown from sea level to an elevation of 2,500 feet.
Macadamia trees thrive in areas with well-draining soil, abundant sunlight, and a warm climate. The ideal temperature range for macadamia farming is between 18°C and 28°C. Areas such as Muranga, Kiambu, Embu, Meru, and Thika are known to have ideal conditions for macadamia farming in Kenya.
Macadamia trees have lower nut yields than other nut trees, meaning that it can take a while to start and maintain a positive cash flow. Because of this and harvesting expenses, macadamia orchards generally require a major capital investment.
How much can a macadamia farmer earn in Kenya 2023?
Going with the highlighted production projection and government set minimal earn, a variety like Muranga 20 macadamia variety a farmer can earn a minimal of returns of Ksh70 per kilogram of nuts, up to 550,000 Kshs – 9800,000 per acre if a farmer harvest 60-80Kgs per tree. The cost goes to as high as 200Kshs per Kg.
Macadamia yields vary with location, season, variety, spacing and management level. A well-managed orchard with tree spacings of 8 meters by 4 meters (or 312 trees per hectare) is expected to yield a peak of 3.5 to 4 tons of in-shell nuts per ha (12 to 13 kilograms per tree) at maturity, though poorly managed orchards or those on poor sites may not reach these figures.
A kilo of the nuts was bought at the highest price of Ksh 230 at the close of the harvesting season in 2019.
Macadamia trees need a lot of management for profit and good nut quality. Because they are susceptible to many pests and diseases, they require regular monitoring and control measure applications. Orchard operations are also required to minimize environmental risk, due to increasing scrutiny, which means that issues such as noise pollution from de-husking, spray drift control, and soil erosion from high rainfall, shade, and mechanical harvesting need to be addressed.
What are the common diseases that affect macadamia trees in Kenya
Diseases that affect macadamia trees include macadamia root rot (Kretzschmaria clavis) and truck canker (Phytophthora cinnamomi). Dieback or slow decline can occur when there is trunk or root rot, soil compaction or poor drainage, poor root structure from planting root bound trees, toxic chemicals from herbicide or improper fertilizer application, or nutritional problems.
Flower blights can be caused by Phytophtora capsici or Botrytis cinerea, with Cladosporium usually as a secondary problem affecting raceme tips. While most premature nut drop is normal, environmental stress may cause excessive premature drop.
In addition to providing the nuts for harvest, macadamia trees can also help to generate honey production for nearby beehives. Sheep also can be used as natural lawn mowers to reduce the costs of herbicides and weeding, decreasing the risk of chemical toxicity in the soil and providing additional income with wool products.
Where can one buy genuine grafted macadamia seedlings in Kenya
One can buy certified macadamia plants from certified graftors like Farmers Trend nurseries via 0724-559286 or at Fruit Africa nurseries via 0752-452939
Success Story Of A Macadamia Farmer In Bungoma County
By Rachel Kibui
A drive through Bwake Ward in Bungoma County reveals farms which are characterised by a dry maize crop while some have young lush green sugarcane.
But in Khachoge village is a farm of its kind.
Here, you are ushered into an orchard with different fruit varieties.
There are short flowering mango trees, well fruited pawpaw trees, some gooseberry plants, avocados as well as macadamia trees in the one-acre farm.
ORCHARD
One would be forgiven for thinking that this farmer actually decided to establish the orchard to get fruits for his family.
But its owner, Gervase Wakoli, explains that this is not why the orchard was established.
“This is an experimental farm, on which I wanted to identify the best crop not only for my vast farm, but also for the community around this area,” says Wakoli.
One by one, he observed the crops and with keen consultations with agronomists, eliminated them
CROPS TRIAL
He did not like the mango because when frost falls, which is a common occurrence here, it destroys all the fruits. That way, he decided to remove the crop from his list.
Gooseberry farming he explains, is not only labour intensive, but he also has no connection to a ready market.
So he dropped this one too.
While pawpaw look like they are doing great, they are affected by frost which leaves marks on the fruits. The marks later turn black, making the fruits not attractive to customers.
Besides, a market survey revealed that these fruits sell for as low as Sh20 each in the local market. For these two reasons, he decided not to venture into large scale pawpaw farming.
MACADAMIA FARMING
Finally, Wakoli decided to venture into macadamia farming.
Although macadamia trees take long to mature, he says he will be patient as he is optimistic that he will not only earn handsomely, but also spend less money and time on labour.
Besides, he is eyeing a macadamia processing market in Bungoma town.
Over the last two months, Wakoli has planted over 350 macadamia trees on his five-acre farm.
INTERCROPPING
To ensure that he keeps off weeds and benefits from the farm as the crop matures, he wisely chose to intercrop the macadamia trees with sweet potato vines.
“I got certified sweet potato vine seeds from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) in Bungoma,” he says, adding that certified seeds are an assurance of high quantity and quality harvest.
He has a ready market at a local flour mill which he says mills sweet potatoes to flour for sale.
Besides establishing his own farm, Wakoli has already started selling macadamia seedlings to farmers in his village, most of whom are his clients for indigenous chicks.
SOLD SEEDLINGS
Over the last three months, he says, he has sold over 3,000 seedlings to about 75 farmers.
He sources the seedlings from a certified breeder and sells them to the farmers at Sh400 each.
Like many other farmers, Wakoli is eyeing opportunities to benefit maximally from macadamia farming.
In a bid to promote this value chain, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), with funding from the European Union (EU), will be running a four-year project that will empower stakeholders in the macadamia value chain.
The project aims at promoting standards and expanding markets both locally, regionally and internationally.
“I am praying that I will benefit from the Market Access Upgrade Programme (Markup) project so that I can learn from other stakeholders including experts who will be involved in it,” says Wakoli.
BEYOND MAIZE FARMING
If he gets to sharpen his skills and knowledge about macadamia farming, he says, he will enlighten other farmers on the need to broaden beyond just the traditional maize and sugarcane farming.
To him, macadamia is the crop which may create a positive economic revolution in the future.
Besides macadamia, the Markup project will also focus on passion fruits, chilli, groundnuts, mangoes, snow peas and French peas.
The project will be implemented in 12 counties across the country.
Kenya is set to host the ninth international macadamia symposium in August 2021 during which participants will deliberate on issues about this nut, including achievements and challenges.
The event, which is held after every two years, brings together stakeholders along this value chain who include scholars, experts, farmers, processors, entrepreneurs among others.
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