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Chipo Katsidzira Manicaland Correspondent
LOCAL producers of macadamia nuts should brace for a significant increase in demand for the crop in the near future driven by changes in consumption patterns, Agritex horticultural specialist Mr Douglas Nzarayebani has said.

Mr Nzarayebani said Zimbabwean farmers could benefit immensely from macadamia production if they work towards producing enough for export.

Macadamia nuts are indigenous to Australia, but now grown in many parts of the world including South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

“The demand for macadamia nuts is expected to grow significantly driven by changes in consumption patterns, including rising demand for vegetable sources of protein to replace meat,” he said.

“In the United States of America and Japan the product is frequently used as an ingredient, in Europe the nuts are used for butter production and chocolate coating,” said Mr Nzarayebani.