Macadamia, a rare but earning plant

Above, Enyangu shows a macadamia seedling in nursery bed. Photo by Zurah Karungi

What you need to know:

Macadamia is still rare in Uganda as not many people have embraced the nut tree. But if one invested in growing it, he or she can earn a lot from it. Martin Enyangu, the director of Royal Plants Nurseries, which is found in Kyenjojo District, explains to Zuurah Karungi

Before planting, soak the seeds in a drum of water for 72 hours (three days). Pour out the water and refill the drum daily. Putting the seeds in water softens the hard seed coat.

After three days, the seeds to the nursery bed. A macadamia nursery bed is far different because it requires stones and lake or river sand. This helps the water not to destroy the seeds and also for the hard seed coat to break.
After planting the seed, water them twice a day and they will start germinating after 21 days.
Transfer the seedlings where the sun hits at 50 per cent. They will be four months and 25 days before taking them second bed to them in polythene bags or pots.

At the second nursery bed, expose them to sunlight, which is measured and controlled. Here, put a mesh or net to achieve this so that the seeds are not destroyed. This is called 50 per cent shed net and here the seeds spend eight to 10 months.
At this stage, weeding is necessary because there is always a lot of weeds. It is also intended to soften the land for the better growth of the plant.

After four to six months, when the seedlings are at 50 per cent shed net, take them outside where the sunlight is the most, which is called 90 per cent shed.

This helps the tree to harden before being taken to where the buds are cut off for new ones to come out this to fasten growth and yielding of the trees.

These plants spend four to six months under 90 per cent shed. When the buds are cut off, put them under a structure made out polythene (kaveera). There should be supports to prevent the kaveera from reaching the trees.

The kaveera has to be white and light so that it can allow fresh air, water and sun to penetrate.
This kaveera structure has to be opened after every one month to irrigate and weed.

It has to cover the trees up to the ground so that insects and animals do not destroy the trees
Before the trees are taken to the garden or sold, it goes through four nursery beds taking one year and a half. That is why I sell each macadamia seedlings at Shs10,000.

some pointers on products and prices
A kilogramme of macadamia nuts goes for between Shs2,000 and Shs3, 000. However, if they are roasted, one kilogramme goes for Shs 20,000.
Macadamia has several products that are made out of it.
These include cooking oil, as an ingredient in cookies and chocolate and other confectioneries such as ice cream.
The leaves can be used as animal feed, and the hard seed coat can be used for cooking.

Growing macadamia

When planting, the hole has to be two by two feet. In case you want to add one-season plants such as beans, the spacing is 10 by 10 feet. In other words, on one acre if you are to plant other crops, you plant between 45-50 trees of macadamia. When you are to plant just Macdemia with no other food crops, it is 7.5 by 7.5 feet and you will have 75 trees in an acre.
Macadamia has two seasons a year that is October to March and from June to August.

It takes three years for a macadamia tree to start giving fruits. Each tree will give two kilos per season. When a tree gets to seven years, you get from 15-20kgs per season. At 10 years, it is 60-80kgs from each tree every season.

The best thing with macadamia, you do not to harvest the nuts by hitting them because they fall on their own. You only have to wait until they have fallen and just collect.

Another good thing is you do not need to take macadamia out to dry because it can dry in the store. Just spread it in a place with no water and it will dry.