An annual festival to go nuts for
It’s macadamia nut harvest time and to celebrate, the Eastern Cape’s multimillion-rand Ncera Macadamia Nut Project will host its annual harvest festival next month.
The festival, which has declared its core value as the promotion of social cohesion in the Buffalo City Metro, will take place at Ncera from March 1314.
The event was officially launched at Ncera Great Place by the leader of the Imidushane Traditional Council, Princess Nomaxhosa Jongilanga, Macadamia Farm Project chair Joe Jongolo and the department of rural development & agrarian reform’s Bongikhaya Dayimani, who was representing MEC Nomakhosazana Meth.
The festival is a family-friendly event that will host a variety of craft markets, fun activities for children and entertainment from local and national musicians.
It will be headlined by singer, actor and model Anga ‘NaakMusiQ’ Makubalo and veteran DJ Christos. The two-day event will run as a community day on Friday March 13, when Ncera village community members will have access to services from government departments like home affairs and Sassa.
Also on the first day, the Macadamia Skills Academy, which is a skills transfer institution for people involved in the macadamia industry, will hold its graduation ceremony for students.
The next day, organisers will host the main festival, which will include a fun run, food and craft stores, helicopter rides, plantation tours, a photo booth, a beer garden and entertainment for patrons.
Jongilanga said: “We want to give people access to educational and entertainment activities at the festival. It will be an edutainment gathering.
“This festival is also a celebration of a harvest which has faced many challenges, including the dire drought. We are excited to see the reaping of what we have sown.”
She said the festival dates had been shifted from September to March to make way for the reallife experience of a macadamia harvest.
“When the macadamia nut is ready for harvest, it falls on the ground and pickers gather the nuts into batches, which are eventually shipped to Durban for cracking.
“Festivalgoers will get to witness this experience,” Jongilanga said.
Various vendors will sell products containing macadamia nuts, including butter and cakes.
Jongolo said the project and the festival had the ability to unlock the potential of young rural people.
“The macadamia business is a multibillion-rand industry and SA is in the lead, followed by Australia and Kenya.
“Ncera is the first communitybased project which is in the business of harvesting this delicacy, which is the leading nut in health benefits. It is the RollsRoyce of nuts.
“We are fortunate enough to expose our people in the Ncera villages to this massive business, which is alive with opportunities. Last year we produced 140 tons of macadamia and this year, even though we have been suffering from the drought, we know we will produce more.”
General access tickets for the festival are available at the gate at R35 per person, and VIP tickets are available via e-mail at luxolo@picklink.co.za.
When the macadamia nut is ready for harvest, it falls on the ground and pickers gather the nuts into batches, which are eventually shipped to Durban for cracking