The Sunday Mail
Business Reporter
The 2022 Agricultural Show that kicks off tomorrow will see the Zimbabwe-Botswana Business Forum being the major highlight of the annual exhibition, according to Dr Andrew Matibiri, the Zimbabwe Agriculture Society (ZAS) chief executive officer (CEO).
“There are several business conferences including the dinner on climate change, annual national agribusiness conference, mining and agriculture interface and the mining and agriculture breakfast meeting, including a Zimbabwe-Botswana Forum,” he said.
According to Dr Matibiri, the first three days will be strictly for business with the public being allowed to attend the exhibition from Thursday to Saturday.
Presenting an update on the preparations for the annual exhibition, ZAS chairman, Dr Misheck Kachere, expressed optimism about a successful agri-business trade show.
“Space uptake to date is over 54 000 square metres, indicating a strong rebound in business following the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years,” he said.
“Most of the exhibition space is taken up and paid up for and those who have not paid up are coming through to pay.
“And obviously, being a show it’s open to international exhibitors and we are looking at a few international exhibitors coming to Harare as well. In terms of foreign countries, so far, we have got Malawi, Botswana and India.”
“The official opening will be done on a Friday and a suitable Head of State will open the show,” said Dr Matibiri without revealing the guest of honour citing professional reasons.
Traditionally, the show is opened by an invited Head of State, but in some cases Zimbabwean leaders have opened the event.
“This year we are looking forward to a full normal show with fireworks and the usual conferences like the agricultural conference, mining and agriculture interface conference.
ZAS’ mandate is to promote agriculture and facilitate rural agricultural development in Zimbabwe. Dr Matibiri said this year’s theme was fundamentally essential for the successful and revolutionary growth of agriculture and consequently the country’s economy at large.
The agriculture sector is one of Zimbabwe’s major economic sectors and the Government has continued to roll out a number of initiatives to boost productivity in the sector.
Such initiatives include the National Enhanced Agricultural Production Scheme, Presidential climate proofed and Presidential rural horticulture and livestock programmes.
The agriculture sector has already hit the initial 2025 target of becoming a US$8,2 billion industry after the industry grew by 36,2 percent to US$8,19 billion in 2021.
In 2020, the Government launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Strategy as an integral part of the national development agenda being driven by President Mnangagwa.
Year in- year out the Zimbabwean farmers have produced significant amount of food that has seen the country importing a small number of tonnes to offset the difference.
Zimbabwe needs about 2 million tonnes of cereal crops annually to feed both humans and livestock.
Local farmers have been producing slightly above one million tonnes. To encourage the production of more grain, the Government this year introduced a US$90 per tonne incentive over and above the $100 000 paid per tonne.
