Kenya reopened its macadamia harvest window on 1 February, two weeks early

Kenya's Agriculture and Food Authority reopened the national macadamia harvesting and trading window on 1 February 2026, two weeks ahead of the 15 February date on which a closure running from 1 December 2025 had been due to end. AFA described the closure as a seasonal measure intended to protect kernel quality, oil content and shelf life, and to support Kenya's position in export markets.

AFA said it had conducted targeted maturity surveillance between 19 and 23 January 2026 in the main macadamia-growing counties, and that maturity levels differed between regions: nuts in lower-altitude coffee-growing areas were generally ready for harvest, while those in higher-altitude tea-growing zones remained largely immature. The authority cautioned farmers and traders against premature harvesting, noting that immature nuts could affect quality parameters and limit access to export markets.