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Takunda Maodza Manicaland Bureau Chief
MACADAMIA nuts farmers are appealing for Government assistance in growing one of the country’s potential major foreign currency earners if resources are availed.

South Africa is the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts, harvesting 50 000 tonnes annually and earning R3,2 billion worth of exports to the US, Europe and Asia.

In Zimbabwe, macadamia nuts are grown in Region One areas of Chipinge and Chimanimani, Manicaland Province.

Macadamia nuts sell for between US$500 and US$3 000 per tonne, depending on quality.

Last season, macadamia farmers produced 8 000 tonnes.

In an interview with The Herald on Wednesday, Macadamia Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) secretary-general Mr James Maisiri said with climate change and global warming, macadamia farmers required irrigation.

“When our fields were set, there were no dams as growing of macadamia nuts depended on rains,” he said.

“We are in region one and a week rarely passed without rains, but climate change and with it global warming has changed all that. We suffer heat waves, rains are no longer reliable, hence the need for irrigation.”

The cost of drilling boreholes for irrigation is far beyond the reach of many of the farmers. “About 95 percent of our farmers face that challenge,” said Maisiri. “We need irrigation to maintain our fields which before relied on rains. Our members cannot afford irrigation, especially communal farmers as they live from hand to mouth.

“There is no one helping us, yet macadamia nuts were recognised even by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as a major foreign currency earner. We need financial support from Government or anyone who can.”

Some of the farmers are getting financial support from buyers who are mainly foreign companies, but the arrangement is not so rosy.

The companies buy macadamia nuts for an average US$2,50 per kg and sell them abroad at between US$16 and $20 per kg.

“The end buyer is the winner and the farmer continues to struggle,” said Mr Maisiri.