Hosan Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia Nuts in Hosan

　　Macadamia Nuts in Hosan   Hosan City began introducing macadamia nuts in 1996. Trial plantings demonstrated that macadamia trees grow quickly, bear fruit early, yield abundantly, are drought-resistant and cold-tolerant, have few pests or diseases, and require minimal management—making them highly suitable for large-scale cultivation. Macadamia nuts are not only highly edible but also rich in nutrition, containing all eight essential amino acids required by the human body, as well as abundant protein, various mineral elements, and vitamins. They are known as the “Queen of Dried Fruits.”

　　Hosan is located in a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with an average annual temperature of 20.6°C, average annual rainfall of 1350 mm, average annual sunshine duration of 1608 hours, average frost-free period of 346 days, relative humidity of 78%, and soil pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5. Trial plantings have yielded positive results, making it an ideal region for growing macadamia nuts.

　　In early April 1997, the Local Taxation Bureau of Hosan City in Guangxi boldly initiated trial plantings of macadamia nuts. After careful nurturing and repeated trials, the trees finally bore abundant fruit, causing a sensation in the coal city of Hosan. The project was even awarded the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in Laibin City in 2005.

　　Practice has proven that macadamia nut cultivation can indeed thrive in Hosan. In response to the call of the municipal Party committee and government—and in order to invigorate the local economy and guide farmers from relying on “black coal mines” to achieving prosperity through “green planting”—the city’s Agriculture Bureau swiftly established a nut company. It planted over 1,200 acres of macadamia seedlings, and to date has cultivated more than 3,000 acres. The plan is to encourage related farmers to plant 7,000 acres by 2007, completing the target of 10,000 acres, making it the largest macadamia nut production base in Guangxi and even the whole of China.

　　Macadamia nuts are native to the subtropical rainforest coastal regions of southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales in Australia, where they can bear fruit for 60–70 years once production begins. In April 1997, Hosan purchased grafted seedlings from the Guangxi Subtropical Crops Research Institute for planting. In the first two years of planting, the average trunk circumference of the macadamia trees increased by 4.0 cm, and their average height grew by 69.3 cm. These trees exhibit vigorous growth, drought resistance, strong disease resistance, few pests or diseases, wide adaptability, and require minimal management. Early results were seen last year, with a yield of 75 kg of dried nut kernels per acre, selling at an impressive price of 80 yuan per kg. Moreover, they were in high demand upon hitting the market, with no worries about sales.