Venturing into Macadamia production could help farmers in Vietnam increase their incomes.

Talk Vietnam reports that trials by local scientists have found the north-western and Central Highland regions of Viet Nam the most suitable areas for cultivation of the tree. Trials in Dien Bien Province which started in 2012 have shown that the tree can grow well in the northwest with good harvests and 98 per cent survival rate.

The Macadamia tree is indigenous to Australia and has been dubbed the ‘queen of nut’s for its nutritional value, being high in mono-unsaturated fats and low in protein.

Currently Macadamia nuts sell for US $15 per kilogram, which former Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Cong Tan, said at a recent seminar could see farmers earning between US$2,000 and $3,000 per hectare. It was noted that there would need to be investment in processing.

Bui Xuan Trinh from the Government Office has called for a cautious approach to introducing the tree, saying there needs to be a “specific plan to connect farmers and enterprises to ensure a stable market for the product”.

Read the full story: Macadamia crops could pay rich dividends for Viet Nam