Nairobi — The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) will reopen the harvesting and trading window for domestically produced macadamia nuts from February 1, 2026, after crop maturity improved in key growing areas following a seasonal ban imposed in December last year.

The temporary closure, which ran from December 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026, was aimed at protecting kernel quality, oil content and shelf life, while safeguarding Kenya's standing in premium international macadamia markets.

In a statement on Wednesday, AFA said it had carried out targeted maturity surveillance between January 19 and 23 across major macadamia-producing counties to assess readiness for harvesting.

The assessment found uneven maturity levels across agro-ecological zones, with nuts in lower-altitude coffee-growing areas largely mature, while those in higher-altitude tea zones remained mostly immature.

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"The surveillance findings revealed variable maturity levels across agro-ecological zones," read the statement in part.

"Most nuts in lower-altitude coffee-growing zones had attained physiological maturity, with some mature nuts naturally dropping to the ground."

The authority noted that maturity timelines also differed by variety, with some cultivars reaching harvest stage earlier than others.

Based on the findings and consultations with industry stakeholders, AFA approved an early reopening of the harvest and trade window.

However, the regulator cautioned farmers and traders against premature harvesting, warning that immature nuts could compromise quality and market access.

Kenya is among Africa's leading macadamia producers, with the crop playing a growing role in export earnings and rural incomes.

AFA said it will continue monitoring compliance to ensure sustainable production and maintain the country's competitiveness in high-value global markets.