By: Ernest Jumo
Zimbabwe: (News Of The South) – Macadamia nuts are the most expensive nuts in the world at a cost twice as much as other nuts like almonds, and they’ve been breaking price records year after year and global demand for the nuts is continuing to rise above supply as more people shift from meat consumption to vegetarian diet. This factor that has triggered increases in prices, creating a lucrative market for macadamia.
The shift from meat as a source of protein to vegetarian diet is increasing as awareness of meat’s bad effects on health and on ecological systems spreads. Meat has scientifically been linked to heath problems including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. It alo upsets balance in the natural environment
Zimbabwe is expected to benefit if Macadamia nut farming continues to be encouraged and supported in the country as global demand continues to rise above supply. Zimbabwean farmers started growing Macadamia trees around year 2000 in the Eastern Border Highlands.
The introduction of Macadamia nuts to the basket of commercial crops is a worthwhile investment in a country where agriculture contributes most significantly to the economy. It is also a route to accessing more foreign currency injections in to the economy which has suffered from lack.
Macadamia farmers (image credit Zimtrade)
Zimbabwe’s climatic conditions are well suited for Macadamia cultivation. The belief is that, with appropriate investment and planning Zimbabwe can become a major global macadamia nuts producer. According to estimates from the Agrcultural Extension Services, (Agritex) and other stakeholders Zimbabwe has an estimated 5,000 hectares of land under macadamia, producing an average of 3-4 tonnes per hectare.
Important stakeholders including ZimTrade, the national export development and promotion agency (ZimTrade), and Agritex are collaborating with farmers to increase production.
ZimTrade is pursuing a ‘National Export Strategy,’ which identifies horticulture, “as one of the priority sectors and macadamia,” as “low hanging fruits,” according according to officials at the entity. ZimTrade envisions above 10 percent growth of macadamia exports, translating to US$30 million by 2023 and US$52 million by 2030.
Records already show a rapid upward trend in earnings from the macadamia market with year 2019 earning US$20,6 million up from US15,5million four tears earlier.
“The National Export Strategy identifies the horticulture sector as one of the priority sectors and macadamia are a low hanging fruits,” said ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer Mr Allan Majuru. “As ZimTrade, we want to see a 10 percent plus growth of macadamia exports, translating to US$30 million by 2023 and US$52 million by 2030.
“In our provincial cluster development, we have identified Manicaland as a macadamia cluster and we are working with more local farmers to achieve this targeted growth. Our export promotion department is ready to facilitate engagements between local producers and International buyers,” he said.
ZimTrade is actively implementing strategy to increase exploitation of the macadamia market through various interventions such as collaborating with farmers in production and export marketing processes.
In a nutshell, Macadamia nuts have great potential to nourish the Zimbabwean economy.
It remains to be seen whether farming of this versatile crop will spread across the country.
Macadamia nuts(image credit Gardeniapath.com
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