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Walter Mswazie Business Correspondent—
CHIREDZI Crocodile Farm exported 5,000 skins worth about $1,5 million to Asia in the first and second quarter of this year after the European Union snubbed the product due to sanctions. Farm manager Wilson Gondo told Business Chronicle during a tour of the 71-hectare farm last Friday that they were exporting 2,500 skins to Singapore every quarter. He said this year alone the farm had so far managed to export 5,000 skins and was targeting more by year end.

“We can safely say the project is viable since we have a lucrative Asian market. Every year we have managed to market first grade skins, which fetch a good price on the market. We have sent 5,000 skins to Singapore. I wouldn’t know the price involved but the proceeds should be quite phenomenal,” said Gondo.

“Crocodile farming is a capital intensive business but if you have the expertise it’s rewarding.”
He said the farm employed 60 workers who are normally relieved during winter when there is less work. Gondo said the project was lucrative and had a great potential to contribute immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) presently pegged at $13 billion. He said the market for crocodile skins was not easy considering demands that buyers want fulfilled before accepting your product.

“We sell our products to the world market but it is only skins for now. However, the requirements are very strict that this business calls for high level of discipline and advanced expertise. There is a certain quality that they want for the skin to be accepted but we are happy on all occasions our products have been accepted and that says a lot about those involved in this venture. Many farms have failed to export even a single skin due to stringent conditions set by the outside market,” he said.

A senior official at the farm who requested anonymity said the skins were sold at between $250 and $300 each depending on quality.
“We export our skins for a minimum of $250 and maximum of $300 per skin. However, it’s never easy to come up with the standard quality that the international market expects. It calls for high level of expertise otherwise you can make a loss throughout,” said the official.

Gondo said the farm has 17,000 reptiles but by the year end the number was likely to increase to about 22,000 given that most of the animals were already laying. He said each crocodile has a potential of laying not less than 50 eggs with a probability of less than 0,5 percent mortality rate, which means every egg will produce an offspring at most.

“Crocodiles are classified into four categories namely, hatchlings, which is the egg hatching stage; yearlings those that are one year-old; two-year to three-year olds and then breeders.

“Breeders are meant for breeding and so far we’re impressed with the way the reptiles are breeding. We do have the potential of exporting more if need be,” he said.