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.
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.
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.
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.
Phase 1 - 100ha planted with 10000 Pecan trees
Established a pecan tree nursery at Balu
Phase 2 - 100ha planted with 13000 Pecan trees
50 hectares grazing under pivot and establishment of Cattle Business Centre
40ha lucerne planted under pivot
Phase 3 - 75ha planted with 10500 Pecan trees
Southern Pecan 150ha planted with 20000 Pecan trees on Valley Irrigation Scheme
Phase 4 - 20ha planted with 4000 Pecan trees
50 and 34 ha lucerne planted under pivot
34 hectares of lucerne Hill Pivot 3
Commencement Balu Botswana
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.
In 2020 Southern Pecan Private Limited (SP) embarked on establishing a pecan orchard at Valley Irrigation Scheme, approximately 10km west of Kezi. Valley Irrigation Scheme is a turn key enterprise consisting of a dam on a tributary of the Thuli river, a pumphouse 6km downstream, and a holding storage pond with another large pumphouse. This supplies water to 320 ha of irrigation in 4 blocks.
The 200 families that are beneficiaries of the scheme approached the now shareholders of SP in 2020 for assistance in development and management of the scheme.
A 40-year Use of Land agreement was signed and endorsed by the Government of Zimbabwe. During this period, beneficiaries receive project royalties and will eventually own the orchards, starting with guaranteed rental in the form of food.
Once the orchards are productive, beneficiaries have an option of a cash royalty payment based on turnover, or the existing payment in the form of food.
Pecans are a legacy crop, with the trees living for many years, so the community will be uplifted significantly by the establishment of the orchards, besides enjoying the immediate benefits of employment and receipt of rentals from SP.
In 2020, SP planted 20 000 pecan trees on 150ha, and rehabilitated a further 30ha of irrigation, strictly for the use of the beneficiaries of the scheme.
In 2021, SP recommissioned 90 ha of land under two pivots for cropping purposes, for the benefit of the company, growing a rotation of soya, wheat and maize. The project operating expenses are now funded by the profit generated from these crops.
Zimbabwe’s climate, soils and excellent water resources make it the ideal place to grow pecan trees in Southern Africa. Certain areas of Zimbabwe have all-natural attributes that are necessary for commercial pecan production.
Pecan trees can contribute significantly to the annual sustainable foreign exchange earnings to Zimbabwe.
The Pecan industry is well developed in South Africa and the concept has been proved in Zimbabwe over the last several decades. The oldest Zimbabwean commercial pecan orchards were planted in 1969. They are still producing profitably.
The industry is poised for massive expansion in Zimbabwe on the back of increased uncertainty in South Africa around land rights and the superior growing conditions in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Government has pursued partnerships with private sector in order to stimulate agricultural growth. The focus is on creating sustainable Agri-export businesses and pecans fits well in this model.
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.
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.
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.
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.
