Zim crocodile industry on the rebound
TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Zimbabwe’s crocodile industry is showing significant strides of recovery after production of predator soared to 107 380 in 2022, reflecting a 18.4% increase from 91 000 crocodiles achieved in the previous year, a senior government official has said.
In 2020, the production of crocodiles stood at 113 063.
Obert Jiri, chief director in the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services Directorate told
Business Times that the crocodile industry was one of the key components of the economy.
“In 2020, we had 113 063 crocodiles that were being farmed across the country. This decreased a bit in 2021 where we had just over 91 000 this was due mainly to the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions in terms of exports to the international world. However in 2022 we saw an increase of 18.4% of eggs that were collected.
“So that increase of 18,4 % from what happened in 2021 means that we are bound for an increase in production,” he told Business Times.
Jiri said the crocodile industry was fast attracting a number of people into the sector.
Crocodile skins are mainly exported to France, Singapore, Japan, Italy with meat targeted for the Belgian and Asian markets.
However, the industry is battling increased competition from the region, especially from South Africa and Mozambique.
Players in the industry are now calling for policy interventions to cushion against increased competition from other crocodile farms in the region.
Zimbabwe was once the second largest producer and exporter of crocodile skins in the world after United States of America.
According to a 2017 United Nations Environment Programme, over 2m crocodile skins are traded annually around the world, with Zimbabwe ranking as the world’s second-largest exporter of the reptile products after the United States of America.
The increase of cheaper, high-quality leather worldwide has also raised the demand for superior products, increasing pressure on Zimbabwe’s producers to continue to improve their offerings.
Last year, Zimbabwe’s largest crocodile producer, Padenga Holdings, said it was struggling to clear a huge stockpile of less desired crocodile skins with its customers saying the market dynamics have changed.
