Investing in Zimbabwe timber business has been viewed by most locals as too much of a long-term investment thus shunned by many. Nevertheless, whether this is true or not, investors prefer projects with a short payback period. The high timber prices and profit potential for a timber business in Zimbabwe, few are still interested in this business. The secret of fast growing timber trees was hiding in Asia all along. Password is Paulownia! The tree that can almost grow anywhere and in any condition.

Paulownia is one of the very few business opportunities I know where you can get very high returns after investing little capital. All that is required is proper care of the paulownia timber plantation and expert guidance from someone who has successfully grown these fast growing trees. International development partners of Paulownia are available mostly in Asia and Europe.

What are Paulownia Trees?

Paulownia trees have the potential to grow to a height of 10 metres in only 3 years. A full-grown Paulownia can be more than 15 metres where it will be fully ready for cutting. The plantation can be irrigated if annual rainfall drops under 100mm per month. Harare alone which forms part of Region 2 has average annual rainfall of 840mm. In other countries, even highly polluted water may be used as additional watering which is another huge advantage of the fast growing tree. Paulownia is a highly adaptive species and grows well on many types of soils and to a wide range of temperatures thus there could be potential to grow them in Zimbabwe.

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picture credit: treeme

Why Paulownia

In summary, Paulownia is the fastest growing hard wood tree that can be used to make hard wood furniture. According to the Paulownia Development Company, some of the advantages of starting a Paulownia plantation:

• Can grow in any condition
• Timber air dries well (losing 50% of its moisture in just 48 hours left outdoors, on a dry surface, away from rain)
• Easy to process
• Peeling logs can be very easy
• Good thermal and electrical insulation
• Hardness, flexibility and resistance to breakage
• Paulownia is about 2/3 the weight of the lightest commercial wood grown
• Paulownia has a better ratio strength / weight than the Balsa
• Is easily carved and has been widely used for over 1000 years for fine furniture and musical instruments
• Wood is insect resistant and remains stable during changes in humidity
• Its burning time twice higher than other types of wood
• Paulownia timber is easy to work, does not deform and it is used for furniture parts, boxes or crates, light, fine-grained, soft, and warp-resistant, floating structures and musical instruments.
• Paulownia wood is ideal for structural building components because Paulownia shape does not bend, it is resistant and it is very light.
• It has a low water content and low thermal conductivity, so it can be successfully used as insulation material of a cooling system and has a minimal risk of fire.

The way forward

This blog article is meant to open your mind. Further research and possibly trial plantations done to make a business case. In Australia, many people lost money after having invested in Paulownia Plantation Schemes without having done proper due diligence. For today, lets end here…To your continued Success!!!

NB: Ziminvestors currently do not have a Consultant on Paulownia Plantations