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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
FARMERS in Chimanimani and Chipinge have upped their game in terms of macadamia farming in anticipation of the setting up of a fruit processing plant in the area.
President Mnangagwa recently announced Government’s plans to set-up a fruit processing plant in the area to add value and beneficiation to abundant fruits produced in the region.
The two districts are big producers of macadamia nuts, bananas, pineapples, avocado pears and nartijees.
Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) in collaboration with Macadamia Association of Zimbabwe are already training farmers in the production of macadamia nuts for the international market.
A total of 190 farmers drawn from Clearwater (30), Mabheka (20), Paidamoyo (40), Rusitu (50) and Mt Selinda (50) have so far been trained.
AMA’s Manicaland provincial inspector, Ms Rose Ruzario, said they were advocating for quality production of the highly paying macadamia nuts.
“We are training farmers so that the country produces high quality macadamia nuts which will compete favourably on the international market. Farmers are getting technical expertise on general management of the nuts, pest and disease control, sustainability, harvesting and post harvesting handling and export,” said Ms Ruzario.
Macadamia Association of Zimbabwe secretary, Mr James Maisiri, said that their organisation support the setting up of the fruit processing plant in the two districts.
He said they expecting smallholder farmers to plant 120 000 new macadamia nuts plants by 2022.
Village head, Mr Dudzai Ndiyadzo said the uptake of macadamia nuts farming in the area was encouraging.
Experts include trainers from Agritex, Plant Quarantine, Chipinge Research Institute, Agricultural Marketing Authority and Macadamia Association of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter