Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Farmers have called on the Agricultural Marketing Authority to use the macadamia levy to import new high-yielding varieties, if the country is to take advantage of China’s zero-tariff treatment, which becomes effective on May 1.
According to Statutory Instrument (SI) 138 of 2019, Agricultural Marketing Authority (Macadamia Nuts) Regulations, all buyers of macadamia nuts shall pay a levy at a rate of 1,5 percent of the value of macadamia nuts purchased, which shall be deposited by the authority into the Agricultural Marketing Fund established in terms of the Act.
The levy paid shall be used for the development of macadamia nuts industry in accordance with Part IV of the Act, specifically to support farmers access to information on macadamia nuts production, marketing and processing; the provision of research, training and extension services; pest and disease control; production and marketing and processing of macadamia nuts; and the institution of effective systems to control theft of macadamia nuts.
Macadamia Producers Association of Zimbabwe (MPAZ) secretary general, Mr Fortune Gurai, said they wanted AMA to make use of the levy fund to import new varieties like MCT1, which produce more volumes within a short period.
“We also want the Government to help us establish a nursery so we can distribute seedlings at a subsidised price to farmers to expand their plantations.
“Currently, our production volumes cannot sustain the establishment of a cracking facility to process the nuts after harvest,” he said.
Mr Gurai said that although Chinese buyers had been visiting the country over the past two years, little had materialised in terms of high prices to farmers.
“The marketing season opened at the end of January with depressed prices of US0,20 for nuts of a diameter of 21mm and below and between US$0,70 and US$0,90 for those 22mm and above.
“Nothing has materialised from the international buyers who have been invited by ZimTrade for two years now,” he added.
Macadamia farmers believe more value will be realised if ZimTrade locates the end processors of the fruits in China and arranges farmers’ visits to their factories.
“This will help attract big Chinese players who like the business of volumes and investors who can then be attracted to establish cracking facilities for value addition,” he added.
Mr Gurai said the fruit quality was perfect this year, but there are fears farmers could end up neglecting maintenance of their fields due to persistently low prices.
“Our season has extended due to the persistent rains and the Beaumont variety has not ripened yet, but in a week or two it should be ready for harvest, with the season extending to the end of May.
“Cases of theft are minimal compared to the days when the prices were lucrative,” he said.
According to the latest Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment report 2 (CLAFA 2) 2025-26, macadamia production is expected to rise 16 percent to 16 556 tonnes from 14 263 tonnes last year.
The area also increased four percent to 5 913 hectares from 5 705 hectares, while the yield rose 12 percent to 2,8 tonnes per hectare from 2,5.
Meanwhile, statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that macadamia nut in shell export earnings declined 36 percent to US$8,8 million last year from US$13,7 million in 2020.
The volume, however, increased 32 percent to 6,2 million kg from 4,7 million kg over the same period.
The average price drastically dropped 51 percent to US$1,41 per kilogramme from US$2,91 in the corresponding period.
