Business / Economy
Zimbabwe urged to export goats
28 Oct 2015 at 08:29hrs | Views
Zimtrade has called on Zimbabwe to export goats as the global trade in the commodity has reached $372 million in seven years.
Zimbabwe has not exported meat since the imposition of restrictions on beef exports by the European Union after the country was affected by foot and mouth disease over a decade ago.
Zimbabwe which has a goat population of over three million could exploit promising export markets in regional countries such as Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have a high goat meat demand.
"Zimbabwe is currently not exporting any goat meat.
"After restrictions on the export of Zimbabwean beef due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, goat meat could be an option for the resuscitation of the meat export business."
"Zimbabwean goat producers should engage in world standard animal husbandry practices, if they are to penetrate export markets".
According to Zimtrade latest newsletter, the international market for goat meat has been on an upward trend as indicated by world imports, which increased by 140% over the past 8 years (2007-2014). World imports rose from $155 million to $372 million during the same period.
In 2014, the top importers of goat meat included; UAE ($98 million), Saudi Arabia ($60 million), Bahrain ($33 million), Oman ($14 million) and Qatar ($14 million). The major supplying markets for goat meat are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Australia, China, Sudan, Brazil and India.
Zimbabwe has not exported meat since the imposition of restrictions on beef exports by the European Union after the country was affected by foot and mouth disease over a decade ago.
Zimbabwe which has a goat population of over three million could exploit promising export markets in regional countries such as Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have a high goat meat demand.
"Zimbabwe is currently not exporting any goat meat.
"Zimbabwean goat producers should engage in world standard animal husbandry practices, if they are to penetrate export markets".
According to Zimtrade latest newsletter, the international market for goat meat has been on an upward trend as indicated by world imports, which increased by 140% over the past 8 years (2007-2014). World imports rose from $155 million to $372 million during the same period.
In 2014, the top importers of goat meat included; UAE ($98 million), Saudi Arabia ($60 million), Bahrain ($33 million), Oman ($14 million) and Qatar ($14 million). The major supplying markets for goat meat are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Australia, China, Sudan, Brazil and India.
Source - Byo24News
