Balu has established large scale pecan orchards.

With its beginnings in January 2018, the project that Balu Pecan & Livestock Company has embarked upon involves the long-term development and realisation of 3,500 hectares of land, with the focus being on the establishment of a large pecan orchard for the production of pecan nuts.

About Balu Pecan

10,000 trees planted
in 2018

Balu is a privately-owned company (Kalimba Investments PVT Ltd T/A Balu Pecan and Livestock) whose shareholders have committed the initial capital to the project and successfully planted 10000 pecan trees in 2018.

48000 trees planted
to date

2018
Phase 1
10000 trees on 100ha

2019
Phase 2
13000 trees on 100ha

2020
Phase 3
10500 trees on 80ha

2020
Kezi
10000 trees on 75ha

2021
Phase 4
4000 trees on 20ha

Concurrent
projects

Whilst the primary focus is on the production of pecans, the project’s cashflows are being augmented with cattle and lucerne which supplement the working capital and funding requirements.

Establishment, Location,
Estate & Farm Land.

Balu Estate Establishment

Balu Estate was originally established in the late 1960’s as a conglomeration of Seaborough, Balu, Pampoenpoort and Kennebec properties. Originally owned by the Norvall brothers, the properties were sold to the government in the early 1980s.

Location

The estate is situated 34 km from Bulawayo’s city centre on the Victoria Falls road and 15km from Bulawayo International Airport. The estate has 4 management houses, 50 staff houses, a fully operative workshop as well as a functional airstrip. There is adequate energy & electricity infrastructure in place.

About The Estate

ARDA (Agriculture and Rural Development Authority) owns 3,556 ha Balu Estate. The farm has arable potential of 2,000 hectares and contains a dam in the North East section with a capacity of approximately 17 million cubic meters of water. The dam, known as Pampoenpoort Dam, was commissioned in 1970.

Farm Land

Average annual rainfall is 550mm, with minimum winter temperatures reaching -4C and maximum summer temperatures reaching 35C. The farms soils consist of a combination of black cotton, red clay/loam and sandy loams with lesser clay content. The well drained soils along with the cold winters and hot summer days and abundant stored water are ideal fundamental attributes for a large-scale pecan agri-business.

The Balu Vision

September 2018

Phase 1 – 100ha planted with 10000 Pecan trees

November 2018

Established a pecan tree nursery at Balu

September 2019

Phase 2 – 100ha planted with 13000 Pecan trees

December 2019

50 hectares grazing under pivot and establishment of Cattle Business Centre

June 2020

40ha lucerne planted under pivot

September 2020

Phase 3 – 75ha planted with 10500 Pecan trees

September 2020

Southern Pecan 150ha planted with 20000 Pecan trees on Valley Irrigation Scheme

September 2021

Phase 4 – 20ha planted with 4000 Pecan trees

July 2022

50 and 34 ha lucerne planted under pivot

August 2023

34 hectares of lucerne
Hill Pivot 3

January 2024

Commencement Balu Botswana

The Pecan Story

The history of pecans can be traced back to the 16th century. The only major tree nut that grows naturally in North America, the pecan is considered one of the most valuable North American nut species. The name “pecan” is a Native American word of Algonquin origin that was used to describe “all nuts requiring a stone to crack.”

Originating in central and eastern North America and the river valleys of Mexico, pecans were widely used by pre-colonial residents. Pecans were favoured because they were accessible to waterways, easier to shell than other North American nut species and of course, for their great taste. Because wild pecans were readily available, many Native American tribes in the U.S. and Mexico used the wild pecan as a major food source during autumn.

Over the last 30 years the demand for pecans and pecan products has increased in line with a growing global middle class and populaces that are increasingly health conscience. The lead time to commercial production is long (6 years from planting) and supply has generally lagged. However, production is estimated to double in the upcoming years with new and extensive orchards coming into fruit. The market demand is forecasted to grow by 400% over the same time span with Southern African production having an added advantage of being in season for peak demand periods whence trees in the Northern hemisphere are dormant.

80% of the pecans that are supplied to the global pecan industry originate from the United States. In most seasons, up to 140,000 metric tons are produced.
Pecan prices have risen steadily along with increased demand from consumers for healthy alternative food. In recent years China has emerged as one of the largest new markets for Pecans.

Balu Farming

Tree Provision and Production

Plant material has been procured from both local and South African nurseries. The main cultivars are Wichita, Navajo, Western Schley and Choctaw using Eukalinga root stock. Balu has developed its own nurseries using similar cultivars for further expansion projects.

Other Crops

Balu has 124 hectares of lucerne under pivot, looking to expand to an addition 76 hectares. The lucerne is either for sale or incorporated into the Balu Feedlot.

Cattle

Balu Pecan and Livestock Company are in the process of developing a cattle enterprise. This will include a nucleus breeder herd that will be the core of a reproductive program. We intend to develop a reproductive center at Balu Estate and using technologies such as embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization develop a cattle seed stock program that will be positioned to roll out enhanced genetics into the local community and potentially nationally and regionally.

We have developed a commercial feedlot programme with lucerne as the backbone of the cattle feed which will dovetail into the pasture under pivot that we have provided through SAT and the EU for the local farmer.

The above program we will enhance by providing satellite livestock health centres in the region around Balu and deliver basic veterinary care and health management; this concept of this is to build a long standing relationship with local producers to enhance the quality and health of their cattle and provide for a better quality and valued product.

The Role of ARDA

Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is a Zimbabwean parastatal whose primary focus is National food security, as well as being a driver of Zimbabwean agriculture-lead economic growth and development.

The Authority is divided into two main categories, namely Commercial/Business Operations and Rural Development. Commercial Operations involve production of various crops and livestock at 21 different ARDA Estates (measuring 124254 hectares). The Estates operate as Strategic Business Units (SBU). This arrangement allows Estates to access loans individually on the strength on their respective Balance Sheets.

Since 2009 ARDA adopted a strategy of PPP (Private, Public, Partnerships) with the intention of unlocking asset values and maximising output on the estates. This strategy was further consolidated in 2015 with Governments ZIMASSET policy.

Partnering to Maximise Asset Potential

ARDA have signed a long-term arrangement of land use with Kalimba Investments PVT Ltd to develop and maximise the full potential of the asset.

Revitalising Zimbabwe’s Economy

There is a focus on investor-driven initiatives that will deliver to all parties involved working
closely with the Zimbabwean
Investment Centre.

Email Address

info@balupecan.com

Umguza Zimbabwe

Phone Number

+263 77 210 5595

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