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Tendai Sahondo Business Correspondent
Zimbabwe will soon start exporting beef to Russia as relations between the two countries continue to grow from strength to strength, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made has said.The development comes as Russia is seeking alternative source markets for beef and other related supplies after the country banned food from the West in retaliation to imposed sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine.

Products subject to the one year ban include beef, pork, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk and other dairy products from the US, Canada, the European Union, Norway and Australia.

Minister Made said Russia will soon dispatch a technical team to Harare which will examine the technicalities of beef exports and other possible areas  of cooperation in the agricultural sector.

“One of the commodities that Russia has asked us to supply is beef and other related agricultural products. We will not go it alone; we will engage private partners and communal farmers including A1 and A2 livestock farmers as there is a ready market for beef in Russia.

“This is a chance to revive the Cold Storage Company, which used to be very active in the livestock and meat sector. It is also an opportunity to restock the national herd. In addition, Russia has expressed interest in beneficiating the beef into canned products.

“We are excited with the opportunities that will be availed by co-operation between the two countries in the agricultural sector. We are expecting a technical mission from Russia anytime that will examine the opportunities that exist in the country.

“Overtime we will be signing an MOU with Agricultural ministry of Russia. We therefore have short term, medium term and long term goals with Russia,” he said.

Minister Made said Russia has also offered to provide pharmaceutical and veterinary assistance to the country which will ensure that the country produces good quality meat. He said Russia stands ready to provide mechanisation support to Zimbabwean farmers.

“Russia has advised that it is ready to provide support in terms of machinery and equipment to those farmers that want to start dairy farming as well as support for poultry and pig farming. The assistance will also extend to irrigation equipment,” he said.

Government recently announced a $51,2 million livestock support scheme in its midterm policy review as it aggressively pushes to produce 400 000 tonnes of meat per annum by 2018, in line with ZIM-ASSET.

The scheme is targeted at 1,6 million household livestock farmers, valued at $32 per household and will comprise of: 500g Tickgrease;  1 litre of De-wormer and 500ml Wound Remedy. The assistance is expected to reduce mortality and morbidity among cattle held at communal level.

According to the Department of Livestock Production and Development, 90 percent of the country’s 5,4  million cattle population is owned by smallholder farmers. DLPD figures also show that Zimbabwe slaughters an average of 260 000 cattle on an annual basis, the figure is expected to go up on the back of the Russia deal.