MACADAMIAS Planting a legacy

By adopting a different approach to agriculture and the way tribal land can be used, two emerging farmers are driving change – and providing hope – for rural communities. Their vehicle? Macadamia nuts.

- HANCU LOUW

Macadamias, once considered an exotic indulgence, have become one of South Africa's most profitable agricultural exports. The buttery, nutrient-rich nut thrives in subtropical climates, and today we are the world's largest producer, meeting nearly a third of global demand.

But macadamias are more than a high-value commodity. For visionary farmers, the trees are symbols of permanence and promise. Unlike annual crops, a macadamia orchard can bear fruit for generations. And that long-term benefit makes them uniquely suited to communal land, where private title deeds are often absent, but the desire to create something lasting for families and neighbours is ever present.

Across KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, a group of entrepreneurs is planting orchards, not only to build wealth, but also to anchor rural communities with jobs, infrastructure and pride.

Two farmers share their stories and reveal how thinking differently about agriculture can transform once underutilised land into thriving businesses and vehicles for social change.

Planting trees, planting futures

“When I was a little boy, I used to run around these hills herding my father's cattle,” says Siphelele Vumisa, gesturing towards the rolling green slopes of Macambini (which is under tribal authority) on KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast, roughly 20km from Tugela Mouth village. Behind him, in the distance, the Indian Ocean glistens.