Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MAJOR timber processing concern, The Wattle Company Limited, which halted wattle extract production in July, is now expanding its pine and eucalyptus production lines, and diversifying into macadamia agro-business.
The company started in 1945, with its initial operations specifically focused on establishing a wattle extract and forestry industry in Zimbabwe.
The company, one of the country’s leading players in sustainable forestry for generations, owns and manages plantations in Nyanga, Vumba, Chipinge and Chimanimani districts.
In an interview, managing director, Mr Douglas Mautsa confirmed the developments.
He said the company saw an opportunity to expand pine and gum product lines, while reserving a portion of land for macadamia production.
“About 558 hectares of macadamia orchards have already been planted at the company’s Chipinge estates. Macadamia plantations continue to be established with a target of reaching 2 000 hectares by the end of 2029,” said Mr Mautsa.
He said the dwindling wattle extract market forced the company to halt production.
“The decision to discontinue wattle extract was a result of global market fatigue. The product has been gradually replaced with synthetic chemicals and chromium salts over the years, thereby stifling global demand for the product,” he said.
The company has, however, expanded nurseries to accommodate the increased establishment of pine and gum plantations.
In its five-year growth map, the company aims at resource utilisation anchored on introducing new products that promote conversion of waste into revenue-earning products.
Already, this value addition initiative has seen the production of plywood boards that are being made from what was previously viewed as waste.
Mr Mautsa also highlighted intensified efforts in curbing veld fires and community social responsibility programmes.
The company has invested heavily in firefighting equipment to protect biological assets. In this regard, it secured drones for surveillance and sniffer dogs to help protect plantations.
“The various community social responsibility programmes that we are undertaking, apart from improving the lives of the people in communities that we are doing business, are also meant to protect investment, as we often get assistance from these communities in fire prevention and firefighting activities,” he said.
