RABBIT farmers say they are pinning hope on the government’s five-year livestock growth plan which places greater emphasis on small livestock.
The plan that was launched in 2020 seeks to grow the livestock sector to a US$ 1,9 billion economy by 2025.
In an interview with the Daily News on Sunday yesterday, Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (Zicorba) president Regis Nyamakanga said the development plan means rabbitry, which until recently, was not so popular in Zimbabwe, is now part of the national development strategy.
“The five-year livestock growth plan is a great milestone for rabbit farmers and we commend the government for that. This means rabbit production is now part of the national development agenda and we anticipate that about 1,8 million households will partake in rabbit production,” he said.
Nyamakanga said besides creating employment, a boost in rabbit production would improve livelihoods and contribute to the national fiscus.
He said despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, rabbit farmers were confident in their commitment to rebuild Zimbabwe’s rabbit industry into one of the best in Africa.
Nyamakanga further said while the construction of Zimbabwe’s first rabbit meat distribution hub is nearing completion in Harare’s Waterfalls suburb, other smaller rabbit meat distribution centres would be opened in main regions of the country to complement the satellite rabbit slaughter houses.
He said his organisation had a clear strategy of making rabbit production one of the mainstays of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
Livestock production is an important source of income and a safety net for hundreds of thousands of people, particularly rural women and youth, and is a significant contributor to agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
by Tamary chikiwa
in Zvishavane