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Elton Manguwo
THE country’s open for business mantra continues to charm the international community with the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) recently expressing interest to collaborate with Zimbabwe in livestock production.
Buyers with SALIC, an agribusiness firm based in Saudi Arabia, were in the country to discuss potential collaborations and partnerships within Zimbabwe’s livestock industry and value chain.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development professor Obert Jiri said the discussions were centred on ways that SALIC and Zimbabwean could work together to develop and strengthen various aspects of Zimbabwe’s livestock sector.
“The potential collaboration between SALIC and the Government could encompass various aspects of the livestock value chain ranging from production, processing, distribution and marketing,” explained Professor Jiri.
SALIC, which has significant experience and expertise in large-scale commercial livestock operations, has since expressed interest in exploring investment and joint venture opportunities that could help modernise and expand Zimbabwe’s livestock industry.
The discussions between with the buyers explored opportunities to expand the supply of Zimbabwean Halaal beef to Saudi Arabia.
The talks consolidated Zimbabwe’s efforts to attract foreign investment and expertise to revitalise its agriculture and rural economy. The livestock sector is seen as an area of priority, given the country’s historical strengths in cattle production, that is, both beef and dairy.
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LAMC) executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano applauded the engagement efforts saying the livestock industry in Zimbabwe had the potential to produce high-quality beef for export to the Saudi Arabian market.
“A partnership with an experienced global player like SALIC could provide Zimbabwe with access to new technologies, management practices and market linkages to boost the productivity and competitiveness of its livestock industry,” said Dr Mano.
Critically, the development comes at a time when there has been a growing interest from the commercial A2 cattle farmers in strategic partnerships with export certified abattoirs to explore export opportunities for high quality beef targeting high end beef markets.
There is now an opportunity for the organised smallholder cattle farmers to participate in the lucrative export markets, as some of the village business units (VBUs) and livestock producer business associations such as Nkayi and Buhera have export certified feedlots.
Dr Mano said the next step for export-oriented commercial cattle farmers and commercial abattoirs was to collaborate closely with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to ensure full compliance for their cattle farming operations and abattoir operations to meet both domestic and export regulations for beef export certification to Saudi Arabia.
“By working closely with Agritex and DVS to obtain the necessary certifications and by forming partnerships with export-licensed commercial abattoirs, the commercialising smallholder cattle farmers have an opportunity to directly export consignments of quality-assured economy and commercial grades of beef carcasses to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) markets,” he explained.
Online Reporter