Muranga 20 Macadamia Variety, The best macadamia variety in Kenya
Muranga 20 Macadamia : There are four approved varieties of macadamia in Kenya today. They are classified according to their characteristics and the agro ecological zone they are suitable for. Macadamia is grown between 1400 to 2000m above sea level (a.s.l.). KALRO released four main varieties, MRG-20 (Muranga 20), KRG-15 (Kirinyaga 15), KMB-3 (Kiambu 3) and EMB-1 (Embu 1) for cultivation in Kenya.
These improved varieties yield earlier, more and better quality nuts and kernels than the un-grafted non improved types.
On this article we focus on the best macadamia variety according to sources from farmers – Muranga 20
Farming Macadamia In Kenya
Macadamia belongs to the family Proteaceae and is native to south-eastern Queensland, Australia where it grows in the wild. Although there are ten species only two (Macadamia integrifolia [smooth-shelled type) and Macadamia tetraphylla [rough-shelled type]) are edible. Although macadamia was introduced in Kenya from Australia in 1946, it was not until 1964 that the Ministry of Agriculture initiated the planting of its seedlings by small-scale farmers mainly in Eastern and Central Provinces.
It is grown as an additional cash crop to coffee and tea (Kenya Nut Annual, 2003). Macadamia has undergone a lot of improvement through selection, breeding and propagation.
Muranga 20 Macadamia Variety
Muranga 20 is a pure Macadamia integrifolia variety suitable for the marginal coffee zones of altitudes between 1500—1600 Metres above sea level. Its distinct features include while flowers and rounded leaves with no distinct leaf apex.
The Muranga 20 variety is great because it can adapt to a wider range of climate.
Muranga 20 Variety matures after the third year with an average production capacity of 150Kgs per tree at 7+ years
Muranga 20 variety has a lifespan of over 100 years.
What’s the difference between Muranga 20 varieties and other macadamia varieties available in Kenya?
Muranga 20, Kirinyaga 15 & Embu 1 belong to Integrifolio while Kiambu 3 is a tetraphyla. The physical difference you will notice is that the tetraphyla category has thorny leaves,flowers are pink and the young shoots are red while the Integrifolio have smooth leaves, cream white flowers and the young shoot are green.
Where can one buy Muranga 20 macadamia seedlings in Kenya?
There are recommended certified nurseries by KEPHIS that you should get seedlings from. You can obtain seedlings from Fruit Africa (+254 752452939) or Farmers Trend (+254 790509684 / +254 724559286)
Which is the best soil type to grow Muranga 20 macadamia?
Acidic soils are the best. In Kenya, you will find that most macadamia trees are found in places where there is predorminant coffee growing.
How do you propagate Muranga 20 Macadamia Variety In Kenya?
purpose is to:-
- To get true to type planting material (Clones)
- To shorten time to bearing
- To get uniform dwarf plants that are easy to manage
- Provides a practical avenue for repairing damaged/wrong plant materials
- The process involves raising of rootstocks from hybrid seed (KMB-3, KMB-9, KMB-4 & others),
transplanting, growth, grafting, care of grafted seedlings, hardening and consequently field establishment.
What is the ideal spacing for Muranga 20 macadamia trees and how many macadamia per acre?
- For pure stand like Muranga 20, use 7.5 x 7.5m making it around 80 macadamia trees per acre, for the upright varieties and up to 10 x 10m for the spreading types making it around 70 macadamia trees per acre
- When intercropping use wider spacing
How long does Muranga 20 macadamia variety take to start production?
When you grow your first batch of Grafted Muranga 20 Macadamia seedlings, your first crop will be in the 3rd using GAP to 5th year and you will harvest very good crop in the 7-10th year. Great production per tree is at a range of 100kgs-150kgs per tree per year.
How do you maintain a Muranga 20 macadamia farm in Kenya?
Like every other crop, Muranga 20 Macadamia require extensive care. Your tree will need a specific feeding regime including fertilizer, manure etc. Contact us for any additional advice on this.
How do you harvest macadamia from a tree?
The most accurate answer to this question is that you need to wait for the nuts to fall. This guarantees that you always harvest/pick the most mature nuts. As a guideline we advise all macadamia farmers in Kenya to have their grounds clean for easier picking of the nuts.
What are the estimated cost of macadamia farming
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