At Bunny Estates, nestled within the Gwebi Agricultural College ecosystem, something remarkable is unfolding, a story of resilience, innovation, and eco-conscious ambition. What was once idle land has been transformed into a thriving rabbitry project, built from the ground up through the bold vision of ZimWorX’s #The51 Initiative. Today, with 59 does and 7 bucks, the team is carefully interbreeding California and New Zealand White rabbits to produce fast-growing, high-yield stock with a 60/40 meat-to-bone ratio.
The road hasn’t been smooth. What began with a devastating 60% kit mortality rate has now seen a dramatic turnaround to just 4%, thanks to improved handling techniques and the pivot away from organic-only treatments to more effective, science-backed solutions.The project is also entirely off-grid, powered by solar energy that runs everything from the electric fence and borehole pump to the office and lighting. It’s not just sustainable; it’s self-reliant.
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Bunny Estates is also redefining what it means to farm with intention. Through experimenting with rabbit urine as an eco-friendly insect repellent and foliar fertilizer, they’re redefining what it means to farm with intention. Today, they collect up to 80 liters of rabbit urine per week, a resource that holds both economic and environmental value, and are actively refining a filtration process to unlock its full market potential.
But the vision goes beyond meat, fertilizer and manure. The team is exploring feed independence, value-added rabbit products, and farmer training to help others including pensioners, youths and women to replicate this model. It’s a farm, yes, but it’s also a platform for empowerment, innovation, and resilience.
