Zim crocodile farm to resume meat exports to Europe

BINGA Crocodile Farm will next month resume exports of crocodile meat to European markets, the managing director, Mr John English, has said.

Although the farm has been recently exporting crocodile skins to Singapore, exports to international markets were suspended a few years ago due to the high cost of running the project.

In an interview, he said they would resume by exporting three tonnes of the meat per month to Belgium.

"We could have resumed the exports in January this year but there were slight delays in finalising export procedures. The exports will now have to resume in April," he said.

He said the meat would be exported through South Africa.

Mr English said this was not their first time to export to Belgium.

"We had been exporting to Belgium in 2005 and we are resuming the exports to international market with that country because the market is lucrative and the prices are competitive," he said.

During the course of the year and beyond the farm would work on increasing its market share in Europe.

"The refurbishment of our slaughter and cold room is now complete and we have started preparing the meat," he said.

In 2007, the farm embarked on a $1,5 million long-term expansion programme aimed at increasing crocodile meat and skin exports as well as increasing the reptile's population at the farm to 60 000.

At the moment, the crocodile population at the farm is just above 32 000.

The programme was expected to improve export earnings from $550 000 to $2,5 million.