Industry experts claim that Zimbabwe has the capacity to raise its macadamia nuts production to between 8 and 12 tons per hectare, if best management practices are adopted. According to global research firm Future Markets Insights, the size of the world market for macadamia nuts was estimated at US$1,53 billion in 2022. It anticipates the growth rate to rise by a compound annual growth rate of 11,2% from 2022 to 2032. In 2017, processed macadamia generated US$741,7 million.
A recent report read: “[The] Zimbabwe macadamia nuts industry is valued at US$20,6 million versus a global industry of US$600 million. The country started macadamia nuts production around 2000. According to ZimTrade, by 2018, macadamia nut orchards covered about 5 000 hectares with mature trees producing an average of 3-4 tons per hectare.”
“The country, however, has potential to produce around 8-12 tons per hectares if best management practice is adopted. Currently, Chipinge is the country’s largest producer of macadamia nuts owing to its perfect climatic conditions and soils as 95% of macadamias are under dryland farming, leaving only 5% under irrigation.”
Because of high returns associated with the crop, farmers from districts like Chimanimani, Nyanga and Honde Valley are now also entering macadamia nuts production.
Source: newsday.co.zw