The program aims at rabbit production and continually availing various breeds to the farmers and conserving the indigenous ones as well. The rabbit breeds available are local, crosses of local breeds and some exotic hybrids. The hybrids available in Uganda are numerous and include among the many; New Zealand White, California white, Chinchilla, Flemish giants, local Ugandan Kabale breed and the Kenyan white.
Rabbit farming started in Uganda as early as the 1900’s introduced by the British colonial masters and rabbits were mostly reared as pets. Commercial rabbit farming started as early as the 2000’s but people had a bad mentality about them as they were seen as pets and others saw them as mere rodents and compared them to rats. This perception is diminishing; however, sensitization and marketing needs to continue.
NAGRC&DB has been profiling and training of farmers on rabbit farming together with the Uganda Cuniculture Association (UCA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF). Weighing scales have been provided to regional coordinators to help rabbit farmers with weight monitoring and laboratory diagnostic equipment has also been procured to assist in rabbit disease testing.
