There are claims that Kenya’s cashew nut industry is ailing on the back of years of declining production costing the country jobs, incomes and export earnings, even as global demand for the crop continues to rise.
This has triggered a move to revive the industry with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe saying that years of falling production have eroded livelihoods, particularly along the Coast, despite Kenya having suitable land, strong global demand and underutilised processing capacity.
Speaking during a visit to cashew nut farmers and processors in Kilifi County, where he was accompanied by Dr Bruno Linyiru, Director General of AFA, and Ann Gikonyo, Director of Nuts and Oil Crops at AFA, the CS said, Kenya currently produces only about 13,000 tonnes of cashew nuts annually.
“Farmers have complained about declining yields and disease pressure. Research has responded, and the solutions are ready,” Kagwe said, adding that that is far below the country’s expected processing capacity of 45,000 tonnes.
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) estimate that a fully revived cashew industry could create up to 350,000 jobs across farming, processing, transport and exports, contribute over Sh30 billion to GDP, and restore cashew as a key income earner for coastal communities.
The CS said the government’s revival strategy is anchored on science and farmer support, led by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), particularly its Mtwapa Centre, which focuses exclusively on cashew nut research.
This comes after KALRO Mtwapa developed a new cashew variety which are disease tolerant and capable of doubling yields, with 20,000 seedlings of the improved variety already available for distribution during the coming long rains.
Seedling multiplication and distribution is being coordinated by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in collaboration with county governments, with support from KEPHIS and extension services, to ensure quality assurance and last-mile delivery to farmers.
During engagements with farmers, the ministry intensified sensitisation on good agronomic practices, including recommended spacing of 10 metres by 10 metres and intercropping cashew with coconut and mango, a model that can significantly raise incomes while improving climate resilience.
KALRO officials noted that top-grafting remains a viable and faster option to rehabilitate ageing orchards and restore productivity.
The CS questioned Kenya’s continued reliance on imports despite the crop’s strong local potential.
“How can we be importing cashew nuts when our land is idle and our farmers are struggling?” he posed.
Private sector players
The CS’s delegation also engaged private sector players, including East River Foods EPZ limited (formerly Grow Fairly), which said the country urgently needs to scale up production to match processing capacity.
East River Foods EPZ limited said it has invested about $3 million in the cashew value chain and currently employs about 600 women in processing, while working with 15,000 farmers across the region. However, only 3,000 farmers have 50 trees or more, underscoring the low scale of production at farm level.
The company noted that although about two million seedlings have been distributed since 2017, access remains a challenge, with farmers saying even the subsidised price of Sh30 per seedling is still unaffordable for many households.
Processors also cited gaps in last-mile delivery, calling for stronger coordination between national agencies and county extension services.
Another processor, Nuts and More Processing (EA) EPZ Ltd, established in 2021 and operational since 2023, said insufficient supply of raw cashew remains the biggest constraint. The company has a processing capacity of 7,000 tonnes on a single shift, expandable to 15,000 tonnes, but continues to operate below capacity due to low domestic production.
Kagwe said the revival of the cashew industry will require a whole-of-government approach, bringing together the Ministry of Agriculture, KALRO, AFA, KEPHIS, county governments, farmers and private sector.
He announced plans for a high-level meeting involving all stakeholders to agree on a fast-tracked master plan to restore production, stabilise supply for investors and rebuild farmer confidence.
“Cashew farmers, there is hope.We have heard you and this time, we are moving with speed and seriousness,” CS Kagwe said.
