377 macadamia nuts farmers registered

27 Nov, 2020 - 00:11 0 Views
377 macadamia nuts farmers registered There has been a marked decline in the trade of the green diamond this year compared to last season

The ManicaPost

Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A TOTAL of 377 macadamia nuts farmers were registered by the Agriculture Marketing Authority of Zimbabwe in Chipinge following the pronouncement of Statutory Instrument 138 of 2019 which governs the growing and selling of the highly lucrative nuts.

Chipinge Macadamia Association chairperson, Mr James Maisiri, confirmed the development and said updating of the farmers’ database will bring sanity in the growing and marketing of the nuts.

Mr Maisiri said of the 377 farmers, eight are large-scale farmers, 46 are A2 farmers, while those with 20 hectares and below are 230.

He said there are also 22 small-scale farmers, and 65 communal farmers.

There are also six farmers registered under the nursery category.

“We now have a database for macadamia nuts farmers for the 2020/21 season. The new law requires us to update the number of people venturing into macadamia nuts every season. This also helps us to lure foreign investors to come on board and support the local macadamia nuts producing chain.

“We are grateful for this development because for long, no one knew the number of farmers in this industry. lt was difficult to manage theft due to that,” he said.

Meanwhile,the growing of macadamia nuts by small-holder farmers in most parts of Manicaland is now in full swing.

According to the Macadamia Empowerment Grouping Association (MEGA) chairman, Mr Elvis Nyanhongo, macadamia farmers are tapping from the Chipinge expertise and spreading it to different parts of the province.

Mr Nyanhongo said the project is aimed at empowering small-holder farmers so that they can earn good incomes and live decent lives from a few plants.

The project is assisting resource poor farmers through the supply of inputs.

“The 20 tree per household model initiative was launched in Mutare North and Mutasa by the Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Cde Mike Madiro, who is also the Mutare North legislator, Cde Mike Madiro.

“When mature, a single plant can yield between 30kg to 50kg of macadamia nuts, which will rake in a lot of income.

“At $4 per kg, a farmer can earn between $2 400 to $4 000 from the 20 trees at peak harvest, hence sustainably eradicating poverty and transforming communities as we work towards attaining an upper middle-class by 2030,” said Mr Nyanhongo.

He urged farmers to venture into macadamia nuts production, highlighted that there is huge market for the nuts.

“The market for nuts is vast and the crop is in short supply globally. The crop produces valuable products like sunscreen lotions, confectionery products such as biscuits, ice-creams and chocolates among others, meaning the market is endless,” he said.

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