PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI
Macadamia farmers are accusing nut processors of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to collude with brokers who are mopping up the commodity at throw away prices.
Farm gate prices have plummeted from a high of Sh200 last year to Sh50 currently with farmers saying brokers were delivering the produce to processors.
Mr Joshua Muriira, Meru Macadamia Farmers Association chairman, said processors had closed their buying centres but accused them of continuing to receive nuts from brokers.
However, Nuts Processors Association of Kenya executive officer Charles Muigai dismissed the farmers’ claims, and maintained that they were not buying nuts from brokers.
“It is unfair for the farmers to accuse us of colluding with brokers yet we have maintained good prices when the industry was doing well.
