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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is forging ahead with the massive pecan nut project at Arda Balu Estate in Umguza district, Matabeleland North, as the country aims to tap the growing export market for the commercial crop.

Last year, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) signed a long-term farming agreement with Kalimba Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, in which Kalimba will plant up to 10 000 pecan trees on 1 000 hectares at Balu Estate.

Planting of 1 000 pecan trees has already been done on 100 hectares and plans are underway to expand the project next year, spearheaded by Arda and its partners.

Yesterday a delegation led by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Richard Moyo accompanied by Arda chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza, Dr Jeremy Hubert and Mr Edward Galante from Kalimba Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd conducted a tour of the project.

They expressed satisfaction on the progress made so far and made projections on the positive prospects going forward.

Mr Galante said the project was going as planned. “The project is going on well and we’re going to expand upon these 100 hectares to next year.

This is only 10 percent of what we plan to do to complete the project. In 2019 we’ll plant more trees on 150 hectares and in 2020 we’ll plant trees on 250 hectares and then another 250 hectares in 2022.

“The global market for the pecan nut has expanded dramatically in the last few years and this is what has driven us to come up with this project. The Chinese discovered the pecans; they just love them,” said Mr Galante.

He said pecan nut trees take between five to seven years to grow and from then they can bear fruits up to 100 years.

“It’s an easy crop, which reaches its full capacity in seven years. The nuts don’t require refrigeration. The nuts are used as an ingredient in confectionery, health foods and cereals among other foods.

“Pecan trees are something that anybody with a piece of land and access to water can do. We have a nursery in Shangani with 400 000 seedlings. So we can supply for commercial farmers and small scale farmers,” said Mr Galante.

Mr Nyabadza said the project is expected to make Matabeleland the centre of production for the dedicated export crop.

“Pecans must be grown as a cash crop to generate wealth for villagers like tobacco in other provinces and the theme of plantations must be sustained. The best way to sustain them is to introduce new crops with new technology.

“We’re therefore encouraging villagers to do their livestock, horticulture and cereals but make sure that plantations are part and parcel of the complement of agriculture. We believe that there is value everywhere,” said Mr Nyabadza

Mr Nyabadza said the pecan tree is well adapted to sub-tropical areas and also grows in areas with short, cold winters and very hot summers such as Matabeleland and the Midlands.

— @pamelashumba1