Value addition to unlock value of macadamia, solve market challenges

MACADAMIA nuts farmers are pushing to start exports of processed kernels of the crop arguing that the move would help open up markets and improve their socio-economic situation at the same time.

Macadamia Producers Association of Zimbabwe (MPAZ) secretary general Mr James Maisiri revealed this recently when he updated this publication on macadamia harvesting and marketing.

“Recently I was on a flight to Kenya and witnessed a 150-gramme pack of processed macadamia kernel selling for three pounds.

“In Europe the price is even higher at four pounds for the same 150 grammes,” said Mr Maisiri as he reflected on marketing challenges they are experiencing.

Mr Maisiri bemoaned that the country continued to export lowly-priced raw macadamia nut in shell, as opposed selling a processed and high-value kernel.

He urged the country to ban exports of raw macadamia nuts so that the processed product could also contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030 through bringing in more foreign currency.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has come as a blessing to us if we listen to the dictates of the market. Consumers are now health-conscious and prefer to eat macadamia kernels, which help in fighting cardiac diseases by clearing all fat deposits in our organs,” added Mr Maisiri.

He added that currently the country had 12 000 hectares under macadamia producing between 8 000 and 10 000 tonnes of macadamia in shell.

Productivity of macadamia varies depending on the age of the tree from about 500 grammes of nut in shell for a three-to-four-year tree to 15 kilogrammes from mature trees older than 10 years,” said Mr Maisiri.

Zimbabwe grows the beaumont and intergrifolia macadamia varieties under the cutting/budding propagation method or from seeds. It takes an average of the three to four years for the propagated crop to reach maturity while it takes up to seven years for production from seeds. Over 12 000ha are currently under macadamia production with production costs per hectare reaching US$6 OOO.

Farmers who plant the intergrifolia variety are disadvantaged in the sense that the fruit drops when mature and they have to be on guard picking the nuts regularly.

Most farmers do not have drying facilities and are forced to dispose of the nuts in shell even at low prices to local middlemen.