A feasibility study funded by Food and Agriculture Organization in the 1970’s indicated that the production of this crop in Kenya is viable. This was due to the high value of products from the tree and relatively low cost of maintenance inputs. After efforts were initiated for commercial production of the crop, through funding and technical advice by JICA; the crop now earns the country over one billion Kenya shilling every year. The potential of the country for production of this crop is so great! But; we are sleeping on the job.
Though we are currently ranked number 5 in the world, with production of 10,000 metric tons of macadamia, we can easily be number at production of 100,000 metric tons. There is an increasing demand from importing countries like USA, Germany, Japan and China among others, while our country’s production has stagnated.
This crop is considered as the world’s finest dessert because of its delicate taste and numerous health benefits, thus it is used in the manufacture of chocolate and oils. Unfortunately increasing production of this crop
CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OF MACADAMIA IN KENYA
There is weak commitment from the government aimed at enhancing the production of the crop. Instead the government is concentrating on crops like sugar, coffee, tea, maize, rice that are regarded as food security crops. Small scale farmers whose land area is 2-3 acres produce 70% of the country’s production on the other hand large scale producers who number 500 account for 30% of Kenya’s production.
Secondly land fragmentation is threatening this crop as acreage under production reduces, people resort to developing real estate on the land a business that yields more. Thirdly there is stiff competition from alternative farm enterprises like; vegetable growing and dairy production that have higher yields. Compared to the crop produces after 5-6 months after flowering. On the other hand, a farmer engaging in horticulture will have earned money from vegetables that mature in 3-4 months solving his money problems in the short term.
WHY MACADAMIA PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL KENYA IS SO SUCCESSFUL
The communities living around Central Kenya have been pioneers in almost all areas of agricultural production/activities. It is no surprise that this crop is currently being grown in this area while western Kenya; a region with the greatest potential relying on the traditional food crops and industrial crops like maize, tea and sugarcane.
This is attributed to various reasons like the region’s close proximity to Nairobi-Kenya’s capital that has many agro processing industries, agro-export companies, secondly a vibrant enterprising population and a regional political class that is willing to attract investments in the regions they represent.
From the production of rabbits, chicken, coffee, apples, plums pears, dairy farming, oranges…virtually over 90% of all food crops found in the world have been grown, are grown or will be grown in this area.
The introduction of macadamia in Kenya was aimed at diversifying the income streams of coffee farmers; and the crop proved reliable during the years when the international market prices of coffee had hit an all time low. Secondly there were efforts championed by various NGO’s like JICA that saw the crop as a tool to reduce rural poverty considering the high demand of macadamia nuts worldwide.
It was introduced in Kenya in 1950 as an edible landscape crop by white settlers in home gardens. Commercialization started in 1970’s after realization it could be of export potential. It culminated into a technical cooperation between Kenya and Japan through JICA. Success of program made Kenya be the second largest exporter in the world but now currently the 5th largest exporter due to drop in production. According to data from the ministry of agriculture, in 2007, the production stood at 10,000 metric tons. The production of the crop has stagnated at that level despite the enormous potential of the crop.
Indeed this crop proved to be a life saver for those farmers who adopted its production early when the coffee boom of the 70’s and 80’s was over. The price of the nuts became so good overtaking that of coffee by up to 10 times.
Currently the market demand for this product is so high that farmers cannot even meet a quarter of it. Although this is a blessing because of the improved prices, a societal problem of theft has been created. Thieves are harvesting farmer’s crops at night and during weekends thus robbing farmers their hard earned income.
This theft has created an additional problem of quality reduction of nuts destined for export. Ideally only nuts that have dropped from the trees are harvested because they are fully mature, have attained the required oil content among other quality requirements. Stolen nuts are often harvested by the thieves from the trees before reaching maturity. When these stolen nuts are mixed with other mature nuts during processing in a factory, they reduce the final product.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MACADAMIA TREE
This plant grows as a large spreading and evergreen tree to of height 12-15 meters. The bark of the tree is rough but not furrowed. Trees develop a proteoid root system. The growth of the trees occurs in flashes depending on water supply.
Pollination
This tree can self pollinate, although varieties vary from totally self compatible to totally self incompatible and in-betweens. Varieties grown in Kenya are cross pollinated with each cluster of flowers having 40-50 flowers that produce 4-15 nut-lets or nuts. These nut-lets eventually mature into nuts encased in hard corky shells that are protected by greenish brown fibrous husks. Just before harvesting the husk opens releasing the nut. In a natural setting, trees will have fresh growth. The falling of nuts is an indication they are ready for harvest.
VARIETIES RECOMMENDED IN KENYA
There are 6 varieties that are suitable for planting in Kenya
KRG 1, KRG 3, KRG 4, MRG 20, EMB 1, KMB 3
KRG 2
In Australia cultivars recommended include
H2 produces heavy fruit but the problem it is the stick type. It is preferable for nursery cultivation.
HAES 246 is a large spreading tree, slow to come to bearing, once it comes into production; it becomes a reliable tree whose canopy is very large. It is more suitable as a pollinator.
HAES 660-this is an upright tree suited for close spacing, since it produces small nuts with high kennel recovery and quality. Small kennel size is suitable for the confectionary industry e.g. in chocolate.
HAES 344 –this is an upright and hardy tree with very heavy tree. Has relatively good wind resistance, the problem is that it is prone to the nut borer than other varieties. It produces very well even in high limiting temperature.
HAES 741- this is an upright tree, moderate wind resistance less vegetative, kernels are of very high quality. They suffer from a problem called watermark where the kernel still remain wet at the bottom.
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF MACADAMIA
This crop was introduced in Kenya in all coffee growing areas because these areas receive a minimum of 1000 mm of rain.
They tolerate warm to relatively cool environment as long as there is an adequate supply of water, for the tree to function properly, temperatures of between 24- 30 degrees are suitable.
Frost of about -60 C will kill young trees. Light frosts do not affect the tree much. Long periods with maximum temperature of 400 c will results to burning of leaves and subsequent reduction of yields.
WATER REQUIREMENTS
Rainfall of 1250-2500 mm under moist soil conditions can be optimal for production however in volcanic soil the crop is produced at a rainfall of up to 4000 mm. The heaviest rain should be in the nut and oil accumulation stage.
Strong winds are detrimental to growth of macadamia they reduce growth rates, flower production and flower set and ultimately affect yield. Violent winds can cause branch breakage.
PROPAGATION OF MACADAMIA
There are two ways; through sexual propagation or through asexual propagation. Sexual propagation involves raising seedlings from seeds on the other hand asexual propagation is by raising new plants from the parts of the mother plant by way of stem cuttings. Well matured branches from healthy and high yielding plants of pencil thickness with 2-3 buds are cut; the stem cutting is de-leafed to minimize evapo-transpiration, dipped in a rooting powder, then planted in plastic sleeves filled with well watered and manured soil. After two weeks, the cutting will have rooted. The cutting will be ready for transplanting to the farm after 2-3 months after forming an extensive root system. Another method of asexual propagation is through grafting on a rootstock that is resistant to soil borne diseases.
The following is the most appropriate criteria to follow when propagating macadamia through seed Inspection of seed that involves;
§ Picking a sample of 20 seeds and inspect for insect holes. If infection is above 60% in the lot do not use the seed lot.
§ Take a sample of 20-30 seeds, crack open the nut; kernel should ne fresh and mature. If shrunk and immature at 60% do not use.
§ Moisture content should be 15-18%, at higher levels; the viability of seed is diminished.
§ Floatation test should be used. Unviable seeds float.
§ Coloring test by use of tetrazolium chloride if it is applied to seed and it turns to a red color; the seed is alive and respiring. If 60% and over does not change color do not use the seed.
Yield
A single tree produces 55 kilograms per year. The current price of macadamia nuts is Ksh. 120. This means that you can earn Ksh 6,600 per tree. One acre can accommodate up to 70 trees when spaced at 8 m x 8 m. This means from one acre a farmers is likely to earn a farmer Ksh. 417,510 per year. Up to 7 tons have been reported harvested from one hectare.
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