The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has tasked police to assist farmers in curbing theft of macadamia nuts whose demand on the international market has surged, a cabinet minister has said.
A significant number of A1 and A2 farmers have ventured into the lucrative macadamia nut farming in Chipinge where the crop enjoys excellent growing conditions — but of late the farmers have been having sleepless nights as marauding gangs of armed robbers invade plantations to steal them.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made, said the theft was taking place at a time demand for macadamia nuts, avocados, vegetables and cashew nuts has surged on the international market, opening a lucrative window for Zimbabwean farmers.
Dr Made said Zimbabwe stands to reap a fortune from supplying the international market with the fruits, cashew nuts alongside cut flowers, hence their decision to ask police to enhance security around macadamia plantations.
Agriculture is Zimbabwe’s backbone, with the country mainly exporting tobacco, cotton, coffee and horticultural produce.
“The theft of macadamia nuts has prompted us to ask police to help farmers to beef up security of the plantations. Many farmers with macadamia nuts plantations are still under threat and they (police) should move in to curb the vice because the theft is too much especially when considering that fruits and macadamia nuts are on high demand on the international market.
“Macadamia, avocados, peaches, plums, bananas, mangoes, etc, the level of demand from foreign market is enormous, and we do not want our farmers to be prejudiced,” said Dr Made.
A survey by The Manica Post showed that though police have moved in to beef up security, many macadamia nuts plantations are still under threat.
“Police have been seizing tonnes of macadamia nuts since last month. We are recovering macadamia nuts from robbers every day and we are handling more reports of theft,” said Chipinge Criminal Investigations Department spokesperson, Detective Assistant Inspector Daniel Mhini. Although farmers and buyers agreed to produce a farm ownership certificate at selling points, macadamia nuts are finding their way to the market despite the pact.
A farmer, Mr Simon Sithole, said the situation was now dire as robbers were now invading their farms in broad daylight.
“Yes, we are living in fear as some of our workers are being assaulted every day by some of the robbers. Right now some of the villagers are nursing wounds sustained in the attacks.
“At first they would come at night, but now they are visiting our farms during the day. They will be armed with machetes, knobkerries and catapults. We have discovered that some locals are harbouring these robbers and then gang up with them to steal from our plantations,” said Mr Sithole.
Known as the ‘golden nut’ of Chipinge, macadamia nuts have proved to be one of the exceedingly rewarding crops.
Dr Made said some companies from New Zealand, Netherlands, France, Italy, German, Italy, China, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and Kenya are now descending on Chipinge in search of the golden nut.
Price ranges between $4 and $6 per kg depending on the grade.
“The performance of the nuts and other fruits is really excellent. What seems to be very interesting is that the produce is being sought after in their very state.
“They are organically produced and have no or less synthetic material –and this presents a very big opportunity for Manicaland which produces most of these products,” said Dr Made.
