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Sifelani Tsiko Agriculture, Environment & Innovations Editor
It feels odd to talk about snake farming opportunities in Zimbabwe because of deeply embedded cultural beliefs that view the slithering serpent as evil and dangerous.

Over the last few days, The Herald opened debate about the subject — diving deep into the uncharted territory to promote innovative solutions to the country.

The fainted-hearted saw this as being absurd while the brave saw it as a strategic way to help conserve Zimbabwe’s rich plant and animal biodiversity through access, benefit sharing and utilisation.

Zimbabwe is facing a myriad of problems ranging from unemployment, low agricultural production, diminished livelihood options and low export earnings.

Venturing into the snake farming business is a lucrative, but risky business that anyone can start. The rearing of snakes can in no small way help boost the Zimbabwean economy through job creation, expanding livelihood options for small farmers battling frequent droughts, low market prices and soaring agricultural input cost.

Snake farming could become a lucrative sector for the majority of the poor farmers if they become more enlightened on snake rearing, management and conservation.

Zimbabweans should no longer see snakes as the biblical mortal enemy, but should research more and find better ways of utilising the creatures to promote economic growth.

Zimbabwe and most African countries lose thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in potential income by not tapping into the small, but lucrative and risky sectors such as snake rearing or reptile park business.

The country is well known for its robust and diverse agricultural output as well as its rich wildlife habitat.

Zimbabwe is battling the rapid loss of its rich plant and wildlife biodiversity due to escalating urbanisation.

Snakes and other threatened species are disappearing from their historic habitats in various forests, grasslands and marshes.

In addition to this, landscape conversion and fragmentation as well as poor land management practices such as rodent control, has steadily eroded the suitable habitat for these species.

All this now requires a rethink and the promotion of adaptation strategies and wildlife-friendly farming practices that can contribute to the sustainability of both the local economy and environment.

Farms and residential settings provide plentiful opportunities for establishing secure snake rearing projects that could help conserve snakes and improve livelihood options.

Agriculture in Zimbabwe should now factor in snake farming as a climate change adaptation strategy, in case of droughts and other natural disasters that may affect crop and livestock production.

Most people with predisposed negativity towards snakes should now see the opportunities that may come with good snake rearing practices.

Fear, negativity, ambivalence towards and ignorance about snakes will not help black people to take up this white dominant elitist business.

Currently, Zimbabwe has four permit holders for snake farming — three whites and one black, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks).

“The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has a mandate to issue permits to snake farmers,” says Tinashe Farawo, the authority’s spokesperson.

“We have four permit holders in the country — three whites and one black. We issue the permits primarily for two main reasons — tourism and for educational purposes. We are quite aware that there are a lot of people who are doing snake farming illegally and we will soon launch a blitz to ensure they comply with the law.”

He says there is need for the majority of blacks to take up snake rearing to help with snake conservation and prevent the widespread propensity to harm or kill snakes in the country.

“As an authority we believe strongly in the conservation of our wildlife and if we allow the wanton killing of snakes to continue our local snake populations will decline and rare and endangered snake species may even become extinct,” Farawo says.

“We want more blacks to take up snake farming, but in a legal and appropriate way. We encourage all snake farmers and other prospective ones to first register with the authority.

“Zimparks has been also encouraging people to venture into reptile parks to create jobs and widen livelihood options. Despite this, uptake is still very low because of cultural beliefs among blacks. Its an elitist business sector, but we want to open it to the majority of the people.”

To start a snake rearing project, Zimparks charges a US$100 fee for assessment of premises or property, security, capacity to handle and feed snakes and the availability of water for snakes.

After an assessment, a Zimparks ecologist then prepares a report for approval by the authority. If all requirements are met, a prospective farmer then pays US$500 for a one year permit.

“The process is very simple and the main issues that we consider are property, security, skill and capacity to handle snakes as well as the availability of water and food for snakes,” says Farawo.

Inappropriate perception and knowledge about snakes and snakebites is still widespread in Zimbabwe. The country needs intensive and pragmatic educational efforts focused on natural history and ecology of snakes and prevention of snakebites to be undertaken in communities, schools and universities to promote snake conservation and the uptake of snake rearing as a livelihood option.

Snake rearing has a huge potential to create jobs, rake in foreign currency from tourism and venom exports as well as conserving the country’s plant and wildlife biodiversity.

At present, Zimbabwe spends a sizeable amount foreign currency importing anti-venom from India and South Africa for the treatment of snakebites and other conditions.

One vial or dose, cost between US$80 and US$150 or more depending on the quality and manufacturer.

The country should mobilise resources to establish a Zimbabwe Snake Institute which can be mandated to provide training in snake awareness, first aid for snakebites and venomous snake handling courses as well as the production of venom  anti-venom.

University of Zimbabwe pharmacist — toxicologist Professor Dexter Tagwireyi says the rearing of snakes could help open more opportunities for the country and save the lives of many people who are attacked by snakes.

“South Africans have managed to get it up and running (snake farming). They have two major snake farms that supply snake venom to laboratories for the development of anti-venom which is exported to the entire SADC region and across the continent,” he says.

“As a country we need to take practical efforts to promote the establishment of a snake farm and research centre and the development of micro — niche in the snake and anti-venom industry to save the lives of our people, widen export revenue options and tap into a niche that can create opportunities for academics and researchers.

“All the venom produced currently in South Africa has a ready market locally and abroad. Zimbabwe needs to start thinking about developing a micro anti-venom production unit to take advantage of the growing local and international demand.”

Zimbabwe, just like many other developing countries, is grappling with the snakebites menace and an acute shortages of anti-venoms.

Official figures show that by March 25, 2018 there were 114 cases of snakebites and one death.

The cumulative figure for snakebites were 1 937 and 13 deaths by this period.

In the first quarter of 2017, snakebites claimed 38 lives while the total number of those bitten were 5 605. There is a paucity of information on snakebites as many go unreported in most parts of the country. Figures are only based on estimates.

Snakebites kill approximately 32 000 people in sub-Saharan Africa and leave 100 000 survivors nursing injuries many of whom suffer permanent physical disabilities, according to a WHO study.

Globally, poisonous snakebites kill about 90 000 people a year and leave a further 400 000 with lost limbs, blindness and trauma.

Venomous snakebites and their effects are a source of fear for most people living in Zimbabwe. As a result, people have developed a negative attitude towards snakes, which has led to human-snake conflicts that result in killing of mostly snakes.

Ecologists say attempting to kill snakes increases the risk of snakebites and actual killing of snakes contributes to loss of biodiversity.

Zimbabwe needs to do more research to evaluate the conservation status of snakes and find strategies to improve attitudes, knowledge and awareness of snakes and snakebites.

From a human health perspective, it is also important for the country to better understand snakebite care and prevention among people which in turn represents a key component of snake diversity conservation, snakebite prevention, and pre-hospital care of snakebites.

Above everything, promoting snake conservation through sustainable utilisation practices has the potential to promote biodiversity conservation, create jobs, widen livelihood options, generate foreign currency and increase human health in the country. It’s the way to go.