Kenya’s macadamia sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years. National statistics show that by 2024, the area under macadamia cultivation reached 9,336 hectares, up from 8,826 hectares in 2023. Raw nut-in-shell (NIS) production rose from 44,364 metric tons in 2023 to 49,183 metric tons in 2024, a 10.9 percent increase. At the same time, farm-gate prices improved from 58 KSh/kg in 2023 to 98 KSh/kg in 2024, leading to a substantial rise in value for smallholder growers.
Amid this national trend, there is growing interest in expanding production beyond traditional strongholds into emerging regions. One such frontier is Makueni County, which offers unique ecological and socio-economic advantages for investors, agrodealers, processors, and producers ready to scale. Against this backdrop, the upcoming Makueni Macadamia Summit 2026 — the 1st ever of its kind — provides an ideal forum for stakeholders to explore, invest in, and contribute to macadamia growth beyond the well-established zones.
Why Makueni County Is Emerging as a Viable Zone for Macadamia
Although Makueni has historically been more associated with semi-arid agriculture, recent county development plans signal a strategic shift. The county government has identified macadamia among several high-value crops to commercialize and scale, alongside coffee, sunflower, and other industrial crops. This demonstrates political will to support value-chain expansion, extension services, and market linkages for nontraditional cash crops.
Makueni’s agro-ecological classification includes an Upper Middle (UM) zone — encompassing upland areas such as Mbooni and Kaiti — where mixed farming of coffee, avocado, macadamia, maize, beans, and dairy is already practiced. This suggests that with the right inputs and agronomic support, macadamia trees can thrive under these conditions.
For agrodealers, seedling suppliers, and input providers, this represents a fresh and growing market. The shift toward commercializing macadamia in Makueni means demand for certified seedlings, fertilizers, irrigation or climate-smart inputs, and post-harvest technologies is likely to rise. For investors and processors, it presents a chance to expand value addition capacity outside traditional zones.
Research Insights on Determinants of Adoption~ Why Makueni Could Benefit
Studies on macadamia adoption in Kenya, such as one focusing on smallholder farmers in central Kenya (Murang’a, Embu, and Nyeri counties), show that certain factors significantly influence farmers’ uptake of improved agronomic practices and information sources. Key determinants included the number of macadamia trees owned, yield attained, accessibility of markets, and quality of infrastructure such as roads.
Specifically, an increase in the number of macadamia trees on a farm was associated with a higher likelihood that farmers would use modern information sources (e.g., mass media or extension services) to guide their management practices. Yields and proximity to market centers likewise motivated farmers to seek guidance from value-chain actors, including input suppliers and processors, rather than relying solely on peer-to-peer knowledge.
Translating these findings to Makueni: as new farms are established and farmers adopt grafted or improved varieties, the demand for agronomic guidance, quality inputs, and market linkages will grow. The county’s commitment to commercialize macadamia offers a conducive environment for extension services, infrastructure improvement, and public-private collaboration — all of which were highlighted by the research as critical enablers of yield improvement and market participation.
Strategic Opportunities for Stakeholders in Makueni
- For Agrodealers and Input Suppliers: There is a clear opening to serve a new frontier. Demand for grafted seedlings, fertilizers, pest-control products, soil nutrition amendments, and perhaps irrigation or moisture-conserving inputs will likely rise. Suppliers who position themselves early can capture market share before competition intensifies.
- For Processors and Value-Addition Firms: As production expands, there will be a growing supply of nuts waiting for processing. Given that the national policy favors local value addition — for instance, bans on raw in-shell exports are being enforced — investing in processing plants, shelling facilities, storage, and quality management in or near Makueni could yield high returns.
- For Investors and Service Providers (Technology, Logistics, Finance): There is a niche for financing schemes tailored to smallholder macadamia farmers; for technology providers offering climate-smart farming tools; for logistics firms that aggregate produce; and for businesses providing training and extension services.
- For Government and Development Agencies: Scaling macadamia in Makueni can contribute to county-level economic diversification, poverty reduction, and improved livelihoods. Facilitating infrastructure improvements (e.g., roads, input supply chains, nurseries), strengthening extension systems, and supporting cooperative or group formation can help maximize adoption and yield.
Why the Makueni Macadamia Summit 2026 Is Crucial — and What It Offers
The upcoming Makueni Macadamia Summit 2026 represents a landmark opportunity to align all stakeholders — farmers, agrodealers, processors, investors, researchers and policymakers — toward a common vision for macadamia expansion in Makueni and similar emerging zones. The summit offers a platform to:
- Share agronomic knowledge and best practices, including grafting, soil management, pest and disease control, and orchard management suited to Makueni conditions
- Showcase seedlings, inputs, technologies, and post-harvest innovations for adoption by new and existing growers
- Build business linkages among smallholders, input suppliers, processors, exporters, and funders — thereby strengthening the value chain from farm to market
- Highlight investment and partnership opportunities, including processing infrastructure, value addition, and supportive services
- Advocate for supportive policies, infrastructure, and extension services to help overcome challenges specific to emerging regions
For any stakeholder focused on long-term growth, visibility, and value creation in Kenya’s macadamia sector, this summit offers a strategic entry point — especially in a growth area like Makueni County.
Key Considerations and Risks — and Why They Must Be Managed
Expanding macadamia in Makueni (or any nontraditional area) is not without challenges. Climatic conditions in parts of Makueni can be semi-arid, with rainfall patterns that may deviate from those in traditional macadamia zones; water scarcity and unreliable rain could pose constraints. Therefore, ensuring climate-smart practices, appropriate site selection, and possibly drip-irrigation or moisture management will be important.
Research also underscores that adoption of good practices requires adequate information flow and extension support. Without farmer groups, extension services, or reliable input supply chains, yield and quality may suffer. Stakeholders need to plan for training, supply logistics, and quality monitoring to ensure success.
Finally, processing and market infrastructure must be in place to absorb increased production; otherwise, farmers risk harvesting nuts that cannot be competitively sold.
Conclusion — A Compelling Opportunity to Shape the Future
The convergence of national macadamia growth, rising prices, supportive policies, and renewed interest in expanding into emerging zones creates a rare window of opportunity. Makueni County, with its evolving agricultural strategy and identifiable agro-ecological niches, stands out as a promising frontier for macadamia farming.
For agrodealers, processors, investors, development agencies, and policymakers, the time to act is now. The Makueni Macadamia Summit 2026 offers a strategic platform to collaborate, invest, and scale a sustainable, profitable, and inclusive macadamia value chain — bringing economic benefits, new livelihoods, and agricultural transformation to Makueni and beyond.
By aligning research insights with ground realities and stakeholder ambition, macadamia farming in Makueni can become not just viable — but a success story that reshapes Kenya’s nuts sector for the future.
