Two decades after land reform, resettled macadamia nut farmers, especially in the eastern parts of the country, remain unable to export their produce to Europe as they are considered to be farming on disputed land.

The farmers, whose only other market overseas is Asia, are now appealing to the Government to consider compensating the former commercial macadamia farmers to unlock the European Union (EU) market, which offers better prices.

Macadamia nuts have potential to generate millions in foreign currency for the country, but this has not been fully exploited due to a number of challenges including lack of access to lucrative markets like Europe.

Macadamia Association of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr James Maisiri said while the Asian market was accessible, farmers needed to access the EU market.

“The challenge that every macadamia farmer in Zimbabwe is facing is that they cannot sell to Europe,” he said.

“The European Union argues that we are on disputed land. We had a meeting with the EU officials in November last year in Mutare and they said it openly that it is unfortunate that we cannot export to the EU as we are sitting on disputed  land.

“Our market is only in Asia. Government must do something like compensating the former macadamia commercial farmers for us to access the EU market without hurdles.”

Mr Maisiri said previously after exporting their macadamia nuts to Europe, some indigenous farmers had their proceeds confiscated.

The money would then be given to the white former commercial farmer.

“This was common around 2012-2013,” said Mr Maisiri.

“Europe offers good prices, but the challenge is that they want to know the source of macadamia nuts.

“It seems they have a map and every detail about the former commercial farmers.

“We urge Government to compensate the former commercial farmers. As long as Government has not done so, we are considered as being on disputed land and we cannot export to the EU. We are just happy we still have got a market in Asia.”

In Zimbabwe, macadamia nuts are grown mainly in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts in Manicaland, with Honde Valley joining the bandwagon  recently.

Europe and America have condemned Zimbabwe’s land reform as a violation of property rights even though the programme addressed historical land ownership imbalances that saw the minority owning vast tracts of the finite resource at the expense of the majority.