MACADAMIA NUT SELECTION PROGRAMME IN KENYA

The macadamia nut is an evergreen tree from Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It produces edible nuts which are used in confectionery, chocolate, ice cream and baking industries. There is an increasing demand for nuts and the production falls short of demand (Ohler, 1969).

Commercial production of macadamia nuts has become firmly established in Hawaiian Islands and has expanded considerably over the last decades. Recently the crop has received increasing attention in its home country, Australia, and in USA (California), South Africa, Rhodesia, Indonesia, Kenya and Malawi (Ohler, 1969). Owing to its wide adaptability, the macadamia can be of economic importance in various tropical and subtropical countries in the crop diversification programme. However, the economic value of this crop could be substantially realized if the yields are high enough and production costs not too high to ensure a reasonable return on the investment.