Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Review of Macadamia Production in Malawi: Focusing on What, Where, How Much Is Produced and Major Constraints.

Version 1 : Received: 23 November 2020 / Approved: 24 November 2020 / Online: 24 November 2020 (08:31:43 CET)

How to cite: Zuza, E.J.; Bhagwat, S.; Emmott, A.; Rawes, W.; Maseyk, K.; Araya, Y.N. Review of Macadamia Production in Malawi: Focusing on What, Where, How Much Is Produced and Major Constraints.. Preprints 2020, 2020110601. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202011.0601.v1 Zuza, E.J.; Bhagwat, S.; Emmott, A.; Rawes, W.; Maseyk, K.; Araya, Y.N. Review of Macadamia Production in Malawi: Focusing on What, Where, How Much Is Produced and Major Constraints.. Preprints 2020, 2020110601. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202011.0601.v1

Abstract

Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) nuts have become an essential commodity crop in Malawi. The nuts are a lucrative commodity and are used for household consumption and income generation among farming families and as a foreign exchange earning crop at country-level. In addition, macadamia production has increased significantly in recent years in the country. Currently, Malawi is the seventh top producer of macadamia nuts, with a global market share of three percent (1,846 metric tonnes on kernel basis). In 2018, exports of macadamia kernel had a value of US$24.3 million (£19.8 million or MKW 18.01 billion). However, the bulk (85%) of the crop is grown on large commercial plantations, but the smallholder sector is emerging as vital for the future growth of the macadamia sub-sector in Malawi. Furthermore, Malawian smallholders consider macadamia production to be a low-input crop with large returns per unit area (US$14.37 kg-1ha-1 or MKW 10,701kg-1ha-1) thus a lucrative crop with high potential for poverty reduction and wealth creation among these farming families. This paper, therefore, explores: (i) the historical and current trends in macadamia nut production in Malawi; (ii) analyses the country’s macadamia value chain and (iii) discusses the constraints of macadamia production in Malawi for informed policymaking. Thus, the synthesis of the Malawian macadamia sub-sector provides an understanding of the vital contributions of macadamias to Malawi’s economic growth and improvement of livelihoods.

Keywords

Macadamia; Smallholder farmers; Lucrative crop; Poverty reduction; Consumption

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

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