Zim rabbit meat market to grow in 2022

Harare (New Ziana) -The rabbit meat market in Zimbabwe is expected to grow by at least 50 percent in 2022 as a result of several initiatives the industry is taking, an official has said.

In her end of year message to stakeholders, Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association secretary general Siphosethu Ncube-Moyo said the domestic market was projected to grow from 30 tons to 45 tons per year in 2022.

“Our estimation is that between 2,5 tons and 3,5 tons of rabbit meat is being consumed on the local market per month currently, bringing to about 30 tons per year. We expect this figure to increase by about 15 tons at the end of 2022.

“While rabbit meat is currently being sold in major supermarket chains, eateries, hotels and restaurants, we are working with leading industry players to ensure that new innovative ways of marketing rabbit meat are introduced on the domestic market in the coming 12 months. We are very confident that our plans will yield positive results, catapulting rabbit meat into becoming one of the leading meat dishes in the country,” she said.

Ncube-Moyo said a number of eateries, restaurants and hotels had included rabbit meat on their menus, helping to popularize the consumption of rabbit.

Ncube-Moyo said during the course of the year, the country’s first rabbit abattoir was launched, creating the much needed market for rabbit farmers.

The abattoir, which has the capacity to slaughter upwards of 3 500 rabbits per single eight-hour shift, is one of the biggest in Africa and is built to export specifications.

Ncube-Moyo said her association anticipated that about 1.8 million households would partake in rabbit production in 2022.

“This will not only lead to job creation but will improve livelihoods and contribute to the national fiscus,” she said.

New Ziana