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| Francouis Roux and Mboniseni Buthelezi from uMhlathuze Valley Sugar Company in Tongaat, with Jennie Slabbert en Tyrone Reynolds van Talborne Organics. |
EXTRA chairs had to be supplied for over 120 people who converged
on Umdloti last week to learn more about the latest farming trend in KZN —
macadamia trees.
Most of the guests had only one question to the host company, Green
Farms Nut Company (GFNC) — “Will demand and prices remain high in seven
years?”
National manager at GFNC Graeme Whyte said demand and prices are
likely to increase, but warned that managers of the 28 000 ha under macadamia
trees will have to continue supplying the biggest,
cleanest nuts to compete with growers in Australia, China and Kenya.
cleanest nuts to compete with growers in Australia, China and Kenya.
There are currently about 8 500 ha under macadamia trees in KZN,
and projections show this could increase to 10 000 ha by 2018.
Ann Baker, manager of the GFNC processing plant in Southbroom, said
the KZN’s coastal regions is the best in the world to grow macadamia nuts, as
the crack out average 40%, compared to an industry average of 33%. The
Southbroom plant is the first in the world to earn FSSC2200 certification for
food safety.
Whyte warned China aims to plant 330 000 ha by 2020, but said
quality there, as in Kenya, remains problematic. He predicted the growing demand
for big, pasteurised macadamia nuts will increase prices — already between R80
and R100 per kg — despite the sharp increase in local orchards and bigger
harvests in Mpumalana and Limpopo after last year’s drought.
He said the GNFC is confident its marketing mix will ensure
continued demand and it is doubling its production capacity to handle 25% of the
expected 65 000-ton harvest in 2018.
(First published in The Witness 2 August 2017)
