Kenyan farmers thrive as Privamnuts boosts macadamia yields

BISHOP Godfrey Kariuki, a smallholder farmer nestled on the slopes of Mount Kenya, has witnessed a transformation in his farming fortunes. For decades, Kariuki, like many other Kenyan smallholders, struggled to produce enough from his one-acre plot to support his family. Living mostly off ugali, the staple corn flour porridge, he could only dream of sending his daughters to university.

But everything changed when Kariuki embraced new techniques to boost his macadamia yield. With guidance from field officers working for Privamnuts EPZ Kenya Ltd., he learned how to use manure, prune his trees, and spray them regularly to protect the delicate flowers. The results were staggering—his trees, which previously produced a mere 10 kilos each, now yield between 70 and 100 kilos.

Kariuki’s success is part of a broader movement transforming Kenya’s macadamia industry, led by Privamnuts, a fast-growing food processing and export company. Over the past decade, the company has doubled its output to 7,000 tonnes per year by working with 18,000 smallholder farmers. Privamnuts now supplies macadamia to major global retailers, including Walmart, for use in snacks, cereals, and baked goods, positioning Kenya as the fourth-largest exporter of this highly sought-after nut.

Boosting farmers’ livelihoods

Macadamia nuts, often referred to as the world’s most expensive nut, have become a lifeline for smallholder farmers like Kariuki. By increasing their yields, these farmers have seen their incomes rise, allowing them to reinvest in their farms and improve their living conditions. The higher yields also help sustain families and send children to school, improving the future prospects of entire communities.

Privamnuts has been at the forefront of this transformat…

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