IMF conditions stiff for Zambia - BoZ

crocodile skins has made some positive impact on the viability of the crocodile business, says the Zambia Crocodile Farmers Association (ZaCFA).

Association spokesperson and Kalimba Farms chairman, Bill Thomas, said Zambia’s crocodile farmers were poised to upscale investment, production and exports of skins following Government’s intervention to suspend the export duty on the industry.

Mr agreement Thomas said to strengthen the farmers market who survived access the for ZAMBIA has not been benefiting from

negative financial farmers impact through of the the 10 Warehouse percent export

financial smallholder advantages of being a member of the

duty, now Systems hope to (WRS) focus on has improving been signed the quality between International Receipt Monetary Fund (IMF) because of the of the United skins, Nations increase World their capacity, Food Programme and upgrade (WFP) and stiff conditions facilities to which enable are local attached US$ value 3.5 addition to million the

with create Lusaka Security Exchange (LuSE). assistance. for the local and international has been markets. invested in the

He said historically crocodiles had been seen as

procurement of machinery

a pest and dangerous but Zambian farmers had turned them into a renewable and 10 resource milling that plants could to be

earn the country foreign exchange and create jobs

set up in Rufunsa district

in rural communities.

“The Zambian crocodile Consolidated industry has the Gold Company. potential to lead the world The market. company In the value- Chief

chain, crocodile skins benefit the manufacturing,

Executive Officer, Faisal

agriculture and tourism sectors,” Mr Thomas said.

Mr Thomas said the crocodile Keer, said industry the targeted had huge gold

potential to position Zambia as a global power in

milling plants would produce

the farming and supply of crocodile skins.

300 grammes of gold per

He said Zambian farmers already supply crocodile skins to leather day companies that translated like Louis into 7.5

Vuitton, Gucci and many big international fashions

kilogrammes per month.

brands.

“Government’s support and Mr Keer positive said promotion explained

of this renewable industry is crucial and similar to

the gold milling plants had

other industries the repayment of long outstanding

a capacity of processing 30

VAT claims would be extremely beneficial, but we understand that with the tonnes COVID-19 per pandemic day and it would

would be difficult to expect too much at this time,”

operational next month.

Mr Thomas.

Mr Thomas said ZaCFA He was indicated considering that setting the

up a tannery or cooperate with an existing tannery

company was expected to

that would build the local manufacturing base of

obtain the mineral processing

value-added leather products in order to boost local processing and production. license by the end of this

And member, Suresh Desai, said crocodile

month as it was in the

farms played an important role in the Zambian communities. Mr Desai process. said the crocodile industry employs people from rural communities, “We will then with proceed

some farmers having built clinics, churches and education facilities.