Zimbabwe will start exporting beef to the Russian market, according to a senior government minister
Joseph Made, agriculture minister of Zimbabwe, said that the business mission of Zimbabwe in Russia is to analyse options to manufacture vaccines and medicines for livestock and the development of new technologies in this sector.
The country is also planning to double its exports of beef to Russia and other alternative markets in the European region, stated Made.
Zimbabwe's national cattle herd is estimated to be worth 5.36mn and the government is targeting to raise the figure to 6mn, it said.
Made also noted that Zimbabwe used to export beef worth millions of dollars yearly to Russia, however, the country's beef industry has been struggling for more than a decade since Russia banned meat imports from Zimbabwe. This was due to the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease, revealed the agricultural minister.
Before the ban, the country also exported beef to Libya, DR Congo, South Africa and Malaysia, added Made.