BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
THE Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (Zicorba) has urged local cuniculture producers to increase their production to take advantage of an anticipated spike in global consumption of rabbit meat.
Zicorba president Regis Nyamakanga said the global meat market was expected to surge from 1,5 million tonnes to 1,8 million tonnes over the next three years.
Nyamakanga was reacting to a recent report by market research firm IndexBox which showed that market volume for rabbit meat globally was expected to expand by 2,3% compound annual growth rate to reach 1,8 million tonnes by the end of 2025.
“The anticipated growth in global demand for rabbit meat presents boundless opportunities for local rabbit producers to ramp up their production and take advantage of the expanding market for rabbit meat globally,” the Zicorba chief said in the organisation’s newsletter.
Research IndexBox says in its latest report that China would retain its position as the biggest consumer of rabbit meat globally, followed by North Korea and Egypt.
“China was the main market for rabbit meat in the last couple of years, accounting for 62% (925 000 tonnes) of the world’s total consumption (1,5 million tonnes), followed by North Korea (154 000 tonnes) and Egypt (57 000 tonnes),” says the research firm.
Driven by increasing demand for rabbit meat worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next six years, according to IndexBox.
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Market performance is forecast to retain its current trend pattern, expanding with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of more than 2,3% until 2025, bringing the market volume to 1,8 million tonnes.
In terms of production, China leads the top with 93 2000 tonnes, which accounts for 63% of the world’ rabbit meat production.
North Korea ranks second with 154 000 tonnes, while Spain comes third with a production of 57 000 tonnes, which translates to a 3,9% market share.
IndexBox analysis shows that the global rabbit meat production is likely to see steady growth in the near future.
Nyamakanga said that Zimbabwe was aiming to be among the top three rabbit producing nations in Africa over the next three years.
For now, however, the country mostly consumes beef.
The country recorded an increase in beef and pork output last year compared to 2020 due to higher consumer demand, according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
The central bank’s fourth quarter economic review indicated that in 2021, Zimbabwe recorded cattle slaughters of 293 692, up 27% compared to 2020.
The data showed that slaughtered pigs amounted to 196 173 during the review period, up 6,7% compared to the prior period, the RBZ noted.
It added that sheep and goats slaughters, however, declined by 2,4% to 11 258.
“Beef and pork output increased, while that for sheep and goats declined in 2021, compared to the performance in 2020,” the report noted.
“The increase in beef and pork output was partly attributed to higher consumer demand for the products,” the report reads in part.
Beef is generally one of the key foods consumed in Zimbabwe, and demand has always been generally firm even during bad times.
