Mike Daka, a rabbit farmer and interim president of the Rabbit Farmers Association of Zambia, speaks during an interview at a farm in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, on June 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Martin Mbangweta)
The domestication of rabbits for both commercial purposes and consumption is gaining ground in Zambia.
LUSAKA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Households in Zambia are known for domestication of cattle, pigs, goats and chickens for the purpose of consumption and commercialization.
While rabbits are part of Zambia's wildlife species, domestication of the animals has not been popular.
But the scenario is now changing as the domestication of rabbits for both commercial purposes and consumption is gaining ground in the southern African nation.
While there are some people who have been keeping rabbits as pets, the commercialization of rabbit farming is just now gaining popularity in the country.
Mike Daka, a rabbit farmer and interim president of the Rabbit Farmers Association of Zambia said the demand for rabbit meat in the country is growing hence the decision to form the association in order to popularize rabbit farming.
"The demand for rabbit meat has now grown even here in Zambia. Zambians have now realized that rabbit meat is the best white meat, so that gives them an alternative source of white meat and protein," he said in an interview.
He added that unlike in the past when it was difficult to sell even 100 rabbits in a month, the situation has now changed because demand has grown tenfold, adding that the association has even been getting inquiries from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"That is why we are encouraging more people to venture into rabbit farming. We want more breeders so that we meet the local demand and start exporting. We are targeting to increase the association membership to at least 1,000 by the end of this year," he said.
Started in 2017, the association currently has about 200 members. The association's objectives are to equip members with best practices of rabbit management.
The association was established after some people engaged in rabbit farming realized that the business is not popular in Zambia. The association's target is to start producing a ton of rabbit meat in order to meet the demand and for export purposes.
According to him, rabbit farming is a lucrative venture because one female rabbit can give multiple pregnancies in a year.
This, he said, gives rabbit farming a lucrative foreign exchange earner and employment creation if properly nurtured.
Currently, the rabbit farmers are mostly breeding imported rabbits namely New Zealand and California because they are easy to breed and grow fast unlike local breeds.
A rabbit is seen in a cage at a farm in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, on June 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Martin Mbangweta)
He further said the farmers have started breeding rabbits from Zimbabwe in order to improve on the stock of breeds.
The association, he said, has big plans on the development of rabbit farming through the establishment of provincial committees in all the country's 10 provinces.
The committees will be tasked with the responsibility of mobilizing people interested in rabbit farming who will then be equipped with knowledge through the holding of workshops.
He, however, expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the association from embarking on membership recruitment drive throughout the country.
The rabbit farming sector faces challenges such as lack of trained veterinary officers to deal with diseases that affect rabbits and lack of adequate pellets for rabbits as the country currently only has three firms producing pellets.
Daka, who has been in the rabbit business for the past five years, yet has high hopes and confident of the future of the business.
"This business is lucrative. It is a money-spinning business because it has low maintenance requirements. One rabbit is able to produce 60 rabbits in a year," he said. ■
