The Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and Equatorial Nut Processors (ENP) have entered into an agreement aimed at promoting nut production across the country.
Under this partnership, KALRO will provide farmers with nut technologies, while ENP will procure over 90 percent of the raw materials from farmers for processing into various consumer food products, including macadamia nuts, cashew nuts, peanuts, maize, soybeans, and sorghum.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the KALRO Headquarters, Director General Eliud Kireger highlighted plans to market these products both domestically and internationally, particularly in key markets such as the USA and Europe.
Kireger emphasized the importance of improved varieties developed through crop improvement programs to address challenges such as low yields and poor nut quality. He mentioned several high-yielding nut varieties, including Groundnuts CG7 and ICGV-SM 9991, which are recommended for commercial cultivation.
Despite these advancements, Kireger acknowledged challenges such as poor marketing channels, limited access to markets, and inadequate infrastructure, hindering farmers’ productivity in the nut industry.
To address these challenges, Kireger emphasized the need for collaboration between research institutions and extension services to ensure effective technology transfer to farmers. He also highlighted initiatives to provide farmers with access to information through online platforms and mobile applications developed by KALRO.
Dr. Moses Mwangi, CEO of ENP’s fortified Food division, emphasized the importance of sustainable supply of safe raw materials, particularly soybeans, for fortified food production. He expressed the company’s commitment to working with local farmers to meet this demand.
James Wachira, Chairman of ENP, outlined plans to support commercialization of research findings and transform ENP into a food company. He stressed the need to assist farmers in growing suitable crop varieties and urged collaboration with local governments to improve extension services.
KALRO has prioritized nut research across various regions in Kenya, including macadamia research in Thika, cashew nut research in Mtwapa, groundnut research in Kakamega and Kisii, and coconut research in Mtwapa and Matuga.