ZIMBABWE – Macadamia production in Zimbabwe is expected to register a 44% growth this year from 43,000 tonnes registered in 2019 to 62,000 tonnes, following a significant increase in the area planted, according to a latest government report on the Second Round Crop and Livestock Assessment.
The report indicated that the area put under production has increased to 9, 225ha from 7 300ha.
Macadamia production, one of the high value export commodity in the country has been gradually increasing in the past 10 years after coffee farmers, mostly in the Eastern Highlands switched to it due to low coffee prices, reports The Herald.
In addition the local farmers are taking advantage of anticipated substantial demand growth in the next four years, mainly driven by increasing demand of the commodity in the cosmetic industry.
Owing to its high nutrients, macadamia is widely used in production of desserts, cookies, chocolates, cakes, and other confectionery products.
According to Zion Market research, the global market is expected to reach approximately US$ 4.5 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 6% between 2018 and 2024.
Despite some farmers abandoning coffee for macadamia, the report indicates that coffee production has been on recovery due to lucrative prices.
The crop is expected to register a 9 percent growth this year.
Initiative such as Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program by the coffee operating unit of the Nestlé Group have also contributed to the “coming back to life of the industry.”
The program was launched in 2018 and Nespresso buys the commodity from small scale farmers at a premium of up to 40 percent on the international prices.
The other crops that are also projected to register an increase in production are avocado growing by 41 percent and oranges by 14 percent.
There is a growing global demand of avocado fruit resulting from low production levels across the world, which was triggered by an extreme heat in 2016 and drought.
Between 2012 and 2016, Zimbabwe’s avocado exports rose 302 percent to US$4.2 million from US$1 million, largely driven by increased large-scale avocado production in Manicaland, according to figures from ZimTrade, Zimbabwe export promotion body.
The major destination markets were The Netherlands, UK, France and Germany.
Other horticultural crops that are expected to register growth this year include butter-nuts, 71%, cabbages 80%, carrots 43%, onion 71%, tomatoes 84% and peas 25%.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
