NAIROBI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has banned the export and transit of raw macadamia nuts to promote local value addition, authorities announced on Friday.
Bruno Linyiru, director general of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), said that in recent weeks, several consignments of raw macadamia nuts alleged to be in transit through Kenya have been intercepted at various border points.
"Exporters from foreign states intending to trade in raw macadamia are therefore advised to use alternative foreign ports of exit and to refrain from routing raw macadamia produced through Kenya," Linyiru said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
China, the United States, the Middle East, and Europe are some major markets where Kenyan farmers export their produce.
The AFA added that the export ban aims to support local farmers and processors by promoting domestic value addition through local processing and industrial development. ■
