The document discusses efforts by the South African Macadamia industry organization SAMAC to improve productivity and nut quality in the South African macadamia industry. SAMAC provides extension services to farmers and conducts research on topics like irrigation management, canopy management, nutrition, pest and disease control, new cultivars, small-scale farmer support, kernel shelf-life, on-farm drying and storage facilities, pest management, and registration of new pesticides. The industry faces ongoing challenges to further improve nut and kernel quality for local and export markets, increase farm yields, address shortages of researchers and funding, theft, and increasing input costs.

1. Improving Productivity & Nut
Quality in the South African
Macadamia Industry
Andrew Sheard &
Subtrop/SAMAC Technical team

2. SA Macadamia Industry - Area planted (%)
32.5%
45.0%
20.8%
1.7%

3. SA Macadamia Industry
 Extension services
 6 Technical advisors in 4 main regions
 Farm visits
 Telephonic / emails
 Regional Study groups
 “In a Nutshell” industry newsletter
 Farmers Days
 Annual Research Symposium

4. SA Macadamia Industry
 Average yields:
 Lower in Coastal vs. Inland production areas
 But better quality kernel in coastal areas
 Nut quality:
 TKR% higher in Coastal vs. Inland areas
 Cultivar differences: ‘816’ / ‘A4’ vs. ‘Beaumont’
 Unsound kernel (USK%)
 Early & late stink bug (40-50%)(FSB in Australia)
 Immaturity & Discolouration

5. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?

6. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?
 Irrigation management
 Electricity (25% annual increase for 3 yrs) &
water costs increasing
 Current research
 Comparing xylem water potential vs.
tensiometers & continuous logging
capacitance probes
 Increased used of continuous logging soil
moisture probes e.g. DFM/Aquacheck probes
(Enviroscan/Sentek-Australia)

7. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?
 Canopy Management
 Window pruning
 Reducing tree height
 Improved light penetration
& productivity

8. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?
 Nutrition
 Improved timing & frequency of NPK
 Fertigation
 Micronutrient management esp.
Zn, B & Cu
 Soil application vs. foliar
sprays

9. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?
 Pest (& disease) control
 Stink bugs – two-spotted & coconut bug
 Pest scouting courses
 Macadamia Nut Borer / FCM Schalk Schoeman
 Diseases - generally a minor issue
but blossom blight (Cladosporium spp.)
& husk rot are increasing
 Nursery Certification Scheme S Serfontein
Bensch et al., 2010

10. What is SAMAC doing to improve
On-farm Production?
 New cultivars
 New Cultivar Steering Committee`established
 Trials in existing & new production areas /
countries (Mozambique)
 Small-scale farmers
 SAMAC & Gov. extension support
 170 growers (313 000 trees)
 Farm sizes: 0.5 to 20 ha’s

11. What is SAMAC doing to improve
Nut Quality?

12. What is SAMAC doing to improve
Nut Quality?
 Kernel shelf-life research
 Currently no shelf-life norms for kernel
 Examined effects of:
 Storage period
 Storage temperature
 Style
 Time of season
on shelf life using the Rancimat test
 Storage protocols for DIS
Use peroxide analysis to monitor quality

13. What is SAMAC doing to improve
Nut Quality?
 On-farm drying / curing facilities:
 State-of-the-art drying facilities
– “Dorran Bungay method”
 Correct temperatures for curing (<30°C)
 Increased on-farm storage capacity
 Bin sizes: 2, 4 or 8 tons
 DIS cool storage facilities
– temps <18°C

14. What is SAMAC doing to improve
Production & Nut Quality?
 Stink bug / Pest Steering Committee:
 Pheromone for Two-spotted bug
 Trap crops for stink bugs / Coconut bug
 Stink bug monitoring & forecasting
 Degree day model Schalk Schoeman
 Scouting
 Thrips/mite monitoring & identification
 Bats as potential bio-control agents

15. What is SAMAC doing to improve
Production & Nut Quality?
 Registration of new pesticides
 National Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry
– new policy for Minor Crops
 Faster and cheaper registration
process
 Chemical registrations may be based
on overseas trials & residue
data

16. Industry Challenges
 Continual improvement of nut/kernel quality - local &
export markets
 Improve farm yields
 Canopy management / Irrigation / Nutrition
 Shortage of researchers
 Limited government research funding
 Theft – nuts and farm equipment
 Escalating electricity, water and other inputs
 Benchmarking studies – Collect accurate &
meaningful industry information

17. Acknowledgements
SUBTROP/SAMAC Technical staff
Alwyn du Preez – Golden Macadamias

18. Thank you