Central Highlands urged to ensure macadamia expansion efficiency

Macadamia plantation (Photo: VNA) (Photo: VNA)

Dak Lak (VNA) – Further studies should be carried out on land, climate, cultivating techniques, and seedlings before macadamia are put into large-scale cultivation in the Central Highlands provinces, said PhD Tran Vinh, from the Western Highlands Agriculture & Forestry Science Institute.

He said that the institute has developed four varieties of macadamia with high yield and disease-resistant features recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The Central Highlands Steering Committee recommended farmers choose verified seedlings as well as zone off planting areas coupled with processing factories to ensure effective production.

Macadamia tree should be planted through intercropping with coffee to reduce risks in cultivation, the committee said, adding that it will help increase income for farmers while improving eco-environment in coffee plantation.

However, many growers ignored recommendations of relevant authorities and still developed massive and unplanned macadamia farms, which lead to low production.

Macadamia are being planted on a trial basis in the Central Highlands region. Initial results showed that some areas in the region have suitable conditions for the tree.

The Central Highlands is currently home to 2,266 hectares of macadamia trees, accounting for 64 percent of the country’s total macadamia plantations. Most of the macadamia cultivation is in Lam Dong, Dak Nong and Dak Lak provinces. In 2016, the tree gave a yield of 246 tonnes, accounting for 91.5 percent of the country’s total output. 

The MARD plans to increase Vietnam’s macadamia plantations in the region to 6,490 hectares by 2020, including 5,940 hectares grown together with coffee and tea plants. Six processing factories, each with capacity of 100-200 tonnes per year, will also be built near the growing areas.