Online Reporter
Business Reporter
The Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA), in partnership with Raymeg Consultants Private Limited Group, will roll out a national contract production scheme for rabbit farmers within the next three months.
The announcement was made by Mrs Grace Chengeta, chairperson of ZICORBA’s Harare Chapter, during a rabbit production training session in Harare on Friday.
The training, organised by ZICORBA in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension Services (Agritex), brought together farmers from the Mahusekwa communal land, in the Seke District of Mashonaland East Province, and covered the fundamentals of rabbit farming, including breeding, feeding and health management.
Mrs Chengeta said the scheme aimed to boost production and steer the structured growth of the industry. Under the initiative, Raymeg will provide participating farmers with rabbit feed and guaranteed market access for their produce.
“Priority will be given to ZICORBA members who already have approved cages and breeding stock,” Mrs Chengeta said.
“This is a game-changer for the rabbit farming industry, as it tackles two of our biggest challenges: access to inputs and access to markets, under one programme.”
Raymeg executive director Mrs Paidamoyo Nyamakanga said demand for rabbit meat and related value-added products had surged in recent months as more Zimbabweans turn to healthier dietary options.
“Rabbit meat is lean, high in protein and cholesterol-free; it is the healthiest meat you can put on your plate,” Mrs Nyamakanga said.
“Through this contract scheme, we are not just buying rabbits; we are building a sustainable industry that will create income for farmers and put premium-quality meat on Zimbabwean tables.”
Raymeg, a pan African diversified group with interests in strategic communication, real estate, agriculture, agro-processing and retail, owns Zimbabwe’s only rabbit abattoir and a chain of fast-food outlets, Rabbit Grill, that serve a variety of rabbit meat products.
Since its establishment in 2020, ZICORBA has positioned itself as the sole representative body for rabbit farmers in Zimbabwe, leading training programmes and advocacy efforts to integrate rabbit production into mainstream agriculture.
The scheme comes at a time when the rabbit farming sector is attracting growing interest, particularly among smallholder farmers and youth, thanks to its low input requirements and short production cycles.
Government support was evident at the training, which was attended by Agritex officials, Ms Caroline Kambudzi and Mr Peter Chanengeta.
The initiative forms part of a broader push by ZICORBA and its partners to equip farmers with the technical skills, resources, and market access needed to transform rabbit farming into a viable and sustainable agribusiness in Zimbabwe.
