The association provides practical and financial support to the farmers who are getting started on growing macadamia nuts. It enables farmers to bridge the income gap of six years, between planting trees and harvesting meaningful quantities of nuts.

SUNESMA is the central organization of the many macadamia farmers clubs arising in the area of Neno, Malawi.
It was established in 2000 to provide smallholder macadamia nut farmers with support for creating, developing and running a commercial macadamia enterprise. Since macadamia takes six years to produce income, there is a need for shorter term livelihood support and SUNESMA has responded to meet this need.

SUNESMA engages farmers in their own villages and attempts to build cohesive clubs that can deliver macadamia at required standards. Farmers have driven the organizations expansion into livelihood support.

The project invests in skills for the staff of the association which helps break down some of the inherent barriers between outside supports (such as the NMT) and the community and enables SUNESMA to engage with farmers at village level.

Malawians from Neno staff SUNESMA wherever possible to increase the likelihood that farmers return to the area after following project activities elsewhere.

The project has received £40,000 funding over two phases from the British High Commission (2000, 2003).

The first phase established and developed the tree nurseries and has brought affordable young trees to Neno. The second phase is to provide training for farmers who are starting to produce macadamia.

Training focuses on caring for mature trees and the post harvest handling of the crop. The phase has also built up the skill base of NESMAC leaders and committees to be more able to have a proactive role in the management of macadamia production, bulking as well as marketing.