By Eugenie Muchetu
Harare, (New Ziana) –The rabbit industry in Zimbabwe is rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic small livestock value chains, with an estimated 15 000 farmers and breeders driving its expansion throughout the country.
Rising consumer demand for rabbit meat, valued as a lean, high quality protein, together with new value addition ventures, is creating fresh opportunities for employment and investment, yet supply still falls short of demand, underscoring both the challenges and the potential of the growing sector.
Senzile Ndlovu, acting Livestock Specialist in the Department of Livestock and Fisheries Production under the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, noted that the industry remains in its early stages, with most producers operating at small to medium scale.
“Domestic consumption of rabbit meat is currently estimated at about 10 tons per month, equivalent to approximately 120 tons annually. However, demand is believed to be higher than current production capacity,” she explained.
Zimbabwe is not yet exporting rabbit meat commercially, with limited production capacity the main constraint. For now, the priority is to scale up domestic supply and strengthen processing facilities before entering export markets.
While the government specialists stress the need to consolidate domestic supply, industry leaders are equally focused on transforming the sector into a structured value chain.
Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA) president Regis Nyamakanga said the sector holds significant potential to evolve into a commercially viable value chain capable of supporting thousands of households, particularly in rural and peri urban communities.
“The rabbit industry has grown remarkably over the past few years, and we are witnessing rising interest from farmers, consumers, and private sector players. What is important now is to move beyond fragmented production and build a more organized, commercially sustainable value chain,” he said.
Established in July 2020, ZICORBA has been working to organize commercial rabbit producers and strengthen the sector through farmer training, technical support, mentorship, and market development.
Nyamakanga noted that industry estimates suggest there are now about 15 000 rabbit farmers and breeders across the country.
“The numbers are growing, but we need better data to properly understand the size and structure of the industry. This is why stronger coordination among farmers, government, veterinary authorities, and private sector players is important,” he explained.
The growth of the industry is being driven by rising demand for rabbit meat, which is increasingly recognized by consumers as a nutritious source of high quality protein.
“Rabbit meat provides an opportunity to diversify Zimbabwe’s protein sources beyond traditional meats and is increasingly being recognised as a nutritious and commercially viable livestock product,” said Ndlovu.
She said the government recognises the potential of the rabbit value chain and is working with ZICORBA and private sector partners, including Raymeg Consultants Private Limited, to tackle key constraints facing farmers, which include access to quality breeding stock, finance, skills, technical support, and reliable markets.
“The rabbit value chain has also been identified by Government as having strong potential to create employment opportunities for young people and women, while improving the livelihoods of rural and peri urban communities. Rabbit farming requires relatively modest space compared with many other livestock enterprises and can therefore provide an accessible income generating opportunity for households and small scale farmers,” she said.
Ndlovu said there is also a growing range of processed products from rabbit meat that are steadily expanding the market.
“The market is no longer limited to fresh rabbit meat. We are seeing greater interest in value added products such as sausages, burgers, pies, samoosas, polony, pizza, and biltong. This creates opportunities not only for farmers but across the entire value chain, from breeding and feed production to processing, distribution, and retail,” she said.
The value of the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe is currently estimated at US$1.5 million to 2.5 million annually, with projections of US$10 million to US$25 million in the short to medium term. Its impact extends beyond direct output, contributing to employment, household incomes, food security, and rural development.
“Although a specific GDP contribution is not yet available, since rabbit production is not separately measured in national economic statistics, the industry’s impact extends well beyond direct output. Its growth is tied to employment creation, household incomes, food security, and rural economic development, underscoring its potential to become a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s small livestock economy,” Ndlovu said.
Despite strong growth, the industry faces hurdles including costly feed, limited breeding stock, access to affordable finance, gaps in technical skills, disease risks, and restricted market access. Infrastructure for large scale production, cold chain management, and processing requires strengthening.
“As commercial production expands, the availability of quality breeding stock becomes increasingly important. Farmers need animals with good growth rates, strong reproductive performance, adaptability, and suitability for meat production. Improving the breeding base will be critical if we are to consistently meet market demand,” Nyamakanga said.
Nyamakanga said addressing these challenges will require close collaboration between the government, industry associations, private sector investors, financial institutions, and development partners.
Meanwhile, animal health remains a priority and the Department of Veterinary Services is working with farmers to strengthen disease prevention and management. Conditions of concern include coccidiosis, pasteurellosis, mange, and digestive disorders.
“Improved veterinary support, farmer training, biosecurity, and appropriate disease management practices are essential to protecting productivity and supporting the expansion of the industry,” said Ndlovu.
Concurring with Ndlovu, Nyamakanga noted that with the expansion of commercial production, ZICORBA is also placing greater emphasis on biosecurity and disease prevention.
“Biosecurity must grow alongside the industry. We cannot build a successful commercial rabbit sector if we do not protect our animals from preventable diseases and maintain proper standards on farms,” he said.
He explained that ZICORBA’s Training Department is incorporating biosecurity into farmer training programs, covering areas such as farm hygiene, sanitation, quarantine of new animals, and responsible movement of rabbits, housing management, and disease prevention.
The association is also working with veterinary authorities to strengthen disease surveillance, provide technical guidance, and encourage early reporting of suspected cases.
“Our approach is prevention first. Farmers must understand that biosecurity is not only the responsibility of veterinarians; it starts with every farmer and every farm. Good hygiene, quarantine, proper record keeping, and early reporting can make a significant difference in protecting the industry,” he said.
Top breeder Chrispen Vambe from the Midlands reduced mortality by improving hygiene, avoiding overfeeding, and sealing cages against rodents. Monica Mudonhi, a breeder from Ruwa noted that stillbirths and kindling (giving birth) deaths were a challenge and has reduced this with proper feeding and observation.
“Healthy rabbits should have sparkling pink eyes and remain active. I quarantine new rabbits for a week before letting them into my rabbitry,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marvis Mapingo of Nyazura who went into rabbit breeding because of her love for animals noted that her greatest challenge was mortality during the post weaning stage.
She stressed the importance of weekly examinations to check for mites, explaining that they have successfully used cooking oil to treat infestations.
“We rarely get snuffles because we feed them clean hay without dust. We also rarely encounter coccidiosis,” she said, noting that they deworm at the first sign of infestation.
Mapingo, who raises New Zealand (white, black, and red), Californian, and Chinchilla Giganta breeds, said all are performing well, with New Zealand and Californian rabbits proving to be particularly strong meat breeds.
Vambe, who currently keeps 408 does and sells about 300 rabbits per month, confirmed that the New Zealand White, Californian, and Chinchilla breeds show superior growth rates in controlled environments.
Rabbit farming is proving more profitable than chicken or goat rearing, thanks to shorter breeding cycles and larger litter sizes.
Farmers sell dressed rabbits weighing 2 kg or more for about US$7 to abattoirs, restaurants, and individuals. Breeding stock ranges between US$35 and US$65, bucks fetch US$40 to US$70, while weaners are priced at around US$10.
By products also provide income: “Rabbit urine is in demand. The market is there, many people want to experiment with its usage and effectiveness,” said Mudonhi.
The private sector is stepping in to help address production constraints with Raymeg introducing artificial insemination programs to strengthen rabbit breeding capacity, supporting genetic improvement and expanding the supply of quality breeding stock. It also provides a primary market through its rabbit abattoir in Harare, giving farmers a more structured route to market.
“With stronger collaboration between Government, ZICORBA, private sector investors, and farmers, the sector can overcome current constraints, expand production, and develop into a substantially larger contributor to Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy,” said Ndlovu.
Both Ndlovu and Nyamakanga agreed that rabbit farming offers particular opportunities for women and young people, since it can be undertaken at small scale while providing pathways into commercial production.
Nyamakanga added that the sector should be seen not merely as a small livestock activity, but as an emerging value chain with opportunities across breeding, feed, veterinary services, processing, restaurants, retail, and logistics.
Zimbabwe’s rabbit industry is no longer a quiet niche, but an emerging force in agricultural diversification, driven by the determination of farmers, the support of the government, and the commitment of private sector partners.
From small household rabbitries to expanding commercial enterprises, the sector is proving that with innovation, collaboration, and resilience, even the smallest livestock can unlock big opportunities.
New Ziana
