RABBIT burger, anyone? That is a mouth-watering proposition. But wait for it. Zimbabweans could soon be having many more appetising rabbit dishes and meats such as pies, pizzas, sausage rolls and biltong as it has just embarked on a massive trajectory of producing the small ruminants as part of a drive that is being supported by China.
In the last two years, the Chinese Embassy in Harare has been lending its weight to local rabbit production, which is being fronted by the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (Zicorba).
The organisation was set up by a group of Zimbabwean rabbit farmers to represent rabbit producers in July 2020, with the vision to bolster production and shore up sales in both the domestic and the export markets.
Led by its chairperson, Regis Nyamakanga, the association has become the face of rabbit production in the country with support from China and the government that has since included rabbit production in its five-year livestock development plan.
Speaking to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday, Nyamakanga said their aim was to make rabbit meat one of the most preferred dishes in the country and beyond.
“With chapters in all ten provinces and a growing membership base, we continue to empower rabbit farmers through training and support, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within the industry.
“Our aim is to make rabbit meat the preferred dish in Zimbabwe due to its immense health benefits, thus improving the livelihoods of millions of households.
By promoting widespread consumption and production, we anticipate a positive impact on food security and nutrition across the nation.”
He added that they envisaged a proliferation of various rabbit meat products such as burgers, grills, pizzas and others with the transformation of the cuniculture industry from a backyard and subsistence activity to a commercial enterprise.
“One of our primary initiatives involved professionalising the production process by sourcing sponsors to import pure rabbit breeding stock from South Africa.
“This initiative, coupled with intensive training and technical support for local farmers, has led to a surge in rabbit production and consumption due to its significant health and economic benefits.” Nyamakanga said they had also established collaboration with rabbit producers in other countries to further expand local cuniculture’s reach and influence.
“We have formed partnerships with other rabbit producers in Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda,” he said.
Among benefits for the country are employment creation and ensuring food security at household level, with mostly impoverished rural areas set to benefit immensely.
Nyamakanga said the support his organisation was getting from China was vital to the growth of the cuniculture industry in the country.
“The Chinese Embassy has supported ZICORBA by funding national training programmes for rabbit farmers and providing technical expertise. “These initiatives aim to enhance the skills and capabilities of farmers across Zimbabwe, contributing to the industry’s growth and development.” With the support of the Asian giant, Zimbabwe’s rabbit production is up to some speed. The future of rabbit production holds immense opportunities for growth and expansion.
“We are committed to driving this process forward by fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices within the value chain.
“With continued support from stakeholders and partners, we aim to establish rabbit farming as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.”
ZICORBA also hopes to exploit China’s voracious appetite for rabbit meat as it consumes one million tonnes each year, but only produces 600 000 tonnes, opening up the remainder to exports
