Marketing Public and International Relations Cell: +263 (0)772 835 088 Website: www.muast.ac.zw Email: [email protected] [email protected] MUAST SPEARHEADS MACADAMIA PRODUCTION IN MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE

The Marondera University of Agricul- tural Sciences and Technology (MUAST) is spearheading Macadamia production in Mashonaland East Province. MUAST has been honoured to chair the Macada- mia production and promotion taskforce through Dr Godwil Madamombe, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agricultur- al Sciences and Technology. The taskforce includes representatives from the Horti- culture Research Institute (HRI), Kushin- ga Phikelela National Farmer Training College (KPNFTC), Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic College, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Agricultural Marketing Authority, AGRITEX, Forestry Commis- sion and the War Veterans Association.

The current devolution exercise has set the stage for various communities in to come up with economi- From left: Mashonaland East Minister of State, Honourable Apollonia Munzverengwi handing over Macadamia seeds cally self-sustaining projects that also to Marondera University Vice Chancellor, Professor Nya- help combat the negative effects of cli- mangara. mate change. Leveraging on its local re- It is against this background that a Maca- MUAST STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP IN PICTURES damia nuts production and promotion task force was set up as the first step in introduc- ing and promoting macadamia farming to The Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and three days at CSC and Dozmery campuses. The Technology held its second Strategic planning work- workshop was held in order to come up with Mashonaland East Province. The taskforce shop from 10-16 March 2021. The Strategic planning strategies to enable the University to achieve its initially visited on a familiariza- workshop for the various departments was held over set national, regionally and globally goals. tion tour to get an appreciation of the magni- tude of macadamia production in Zimbabwe.

Macadamia is now a lifeline for more than 200 farmers in Chipinge where the crop is export- ed primarily to China and South Africa where demand is high. An estimated 4 584 hectares are under macadamia production in Chipinge and the district has the potential to double the hectarage and tonnage in five years, given ade- quate financial and material support. Current- ly, Zimbabwe produces 5000t of macadamia. Dr Madamombe, Provincial Macademia Production and Promotion Chairman sources, Mashonaland East Province through the Minister of State, Honourable Apollonia Munzverengwi, together with the Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Mr. Kuta- mahufa, aims to promote the production of Macadamia plantations as one of its activities.

The project aims to improve and sustain liveli- hoods at the same time act as an afforestation measure so as to curb massive deforestation activities happening in the province. Maca- damia nuts are currently being produced in in areas such as Honde Valley, Chipinge and Chimanimani, with the greatest area under macadamia production being in . Mashonaland East also has similar climatic conditions, hence the need to try Macadamia nuts production around Marondera. The Horticulture Re- search Council has done work on assessing the adaptability of Macadamia nuts in Ma- From left:The Chairman, Dr Madamombe showing the From left: Miss Talent Dube, a lecturer in the De- rondera and the results were quite positive. Registrar and the Vice Chancellor the sandbeds ready for partment of Horticulture updating the Vice Chan- the seeds. cellor about the sandbeds. COVID 19 is real. Be SAFE from Coronavirus infesction.

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