The Sunday News
PIG farmers in Gwanda have bemoaned lack of markets for their stock following the relocation of pork processing companies from Bulawayo to other cities.
In an interview with Sunday Business recently, a representative of Gaswa Piggery Project in Gwanda’s Wabayi Village, Mr Isaiah Siziba said the market for pork was depressed and affecting their farming business.
“The major challenge that we are facing is lack of market. Ever since Colcom moved most of its business to Harare, we have been failing to get a ready market,” said Mr Siziba.
He said they were selling their produce to supermarkets in Bulawayo who are buying at low prices.
“When Colcom was there in Bulawayo, we used to have a good market but now we have to negotiate with some supermarkets in Bulawayo to buy our pork. Unfortunately their prices are not competitive enough,” said Mr Siziba.
Gaswa Piggery Project was established in 2013, through assistance from a local non-governmental organisation — Pro Africa.
Mr Siziba said the prices offered by supermarkets fluctuate periodically.
“The producer prices range from $3 to $4 per kilogramme. It fluctuates and sometimes they buy for as little as $2 per kg,” he said.
Mr Siziba said it would have been ideal if there were more buyers on the market as such a situation creates competition.
Another pig farmer in the area Mr Enock Moyo, said abattoirs were also charging a lot of money to dress their pigs.
“The abattoirs charge between $20 and $30 to dress our pigs and at the end of the day we are left with nothing,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the feed for the pigs was also a challenge especially in dry areas such as Gwanda.
“We also need to be trained on pig husbandry so that we get more information on this sector,” he said.
The local pig industry is in dire straits due to a combination of factors such as high costs of feed and shortages of protein supplement, critical for pig production.
Some pig farmers have also not been spared the liquidity crisis as they are unable to access loans due to prohibitive interest rates.
