RYAN CHIGOCHE
Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA) celebrates its first anniversary this month, shaking off the mortality that has afflicted the previous association.
ZICORBA president Regis Nyamakanga said they were aware of the effort it would take to grow the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe, especially following the outbreak of Covid-19 and collapse of a previous association when the organisation was formed last year.
“Against this background, we took a deliberate position to craft a strategy of breathing life back into the rabbit farming sub-sector.
“The strategy is anchored on three key pillars — production, processing, and marketing. We developed a detailed action plan that we have been implementing with sufficient gusto,” he said.
As they continue on their growth trajectory the organization currently employs 14 full-time staff, including the national coordinator; 10 provincial coordinators and youth ambassadors, a communication officer, a website master, and a training coordinator.
ZICORBA’s main agenda is to broaden the participation of the majority of Zimbabweans in rabbit production, improve livelihoods, create employment among youth and women in particular, and contribute to the country’s gross domestic product.
The organisation is being funded for the next two years by corporate members Raymeg Holdings Private Limited and Midesha Private Limited.
Nyamakanga said Raymeg has also imported more than 400 pure rabbit breeds from South Africa to improve the quality of Zimbabwe’s breeding stock.
“The imported breeding stock is being bred locally and we expect that about 2 000 pure breeds will be distributed to ZICORBA members over a period of 12 months starting June 2021,” he said.
ZICORBA has forged strategic partnerships with rabbit farmers associations in other African countries like Botswana, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, among others.
