By Conrad Mwanawashe
THE 2024 edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS), the premier agricultural exhibition in the country, scheduled to run from Monday 26 August to Saturday 31 August 2024, is expected to draw over 250, 000 visitors, but the numbers could rise due to the “improved economic enthusiasm and significant strides in food self-sufficiency over the past few years”.
ZAS Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andrew Matibiri, said preparations for the show, which will run under the theme “Cultivating Prosperity. Growing Business. Innovating for Change. Nurturing our Future”, were encouraging, and on the ground, intense activities and efforts by stakeholders from various sectors of the economy are pointing toward a successful Agricultural Show.
“We anticipate a remarkable turnout of over 250 000 visitors from across Zimbabwe and the region, representing a diverse audience of commercial farmers, small-scale producers, agro-processors, input suppliers, government officials, agricultural research institutions, and aspiring entrepreneurs. This year’s event will offer unparalleled opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and forging invaluable connections within the industry,” said Dr Matibiri.
This year’s event will feature more than 560 exhibitors, occupying over 78 224 m2 of exhibiting space.
The total number of confirmed exhibitors so far is 282 locals plus seven foreign,
bringing the total to 289 and have to-date taken up 58 483.96 m2
In addition to the diverse and captivating exhibition, the agricultural show will host a series of targeted business events, including business conferences and networking sessions.
“These specialized forums will create valuable opportunities for exhibitors, visitors, and industry stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions, explore potential partnerships, identify new avenues for business expansion, and discover innovative solutions that address the evolving agricultural needs of agricultural ecosystem,” according to Dr Matibiri.
ZAS show sections
Agricultural Produce Section – This section only draws winners from provincial shows, 30 from each province, so the 300 winners must first compete and win at ward, district, and provincial show levels to get admittance into the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
Livestock Section – This section has a wide array of entries. Judges will be drawn within Zimbabwe, with a strong contingent of local counterparts. The threat of Foot and Mouth Disease, and January disease require all animals to be displayed to have valid FMD and representation from the goats, sheep, piggery, rabbits, and poultry sectors. Competition is bound to be stiff.
Tobacco – The section will have winners from provinces and the section has decentralized and participated in Provincial Shows.
Cotton – This section was formed to assist with improving productivity in the four cotton-growing regions of Zimbabwe, to highlight the importance of the cotton value chain to rural development, to illuminate the role of cotton in foreign currency generation, and to spur value addition and beneficiation in the sector by bringing all value chain actors under one roof. We have several sponsors who have shown interest in sponsoring this section.
Micro-Enterprise – This section continues to be the source of future entrepreneurs, so there is increased participation and financial support from the cooperate world.
Visitor convenience
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society has placed a strong emphasis on providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Ample parking, food courts, and well-equipped facilities (gates and ticketing) will be available to ensure the comfort and convenience of visitors throughout the event.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society has beefed-up security
and will be using the latest technology to ensure public safety.
Children again will be tagged with the support of our partners to ensure public safety.
Motor vehicle movement will be restricted within the Business Hub during the Show.
“The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society cordially invites the public, the members of the media, to join us in celebrating the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2024. This event promises to be a remarkable showcase of the country’s agricultural prowess, offering unique opportunities for coverage, engagement, and deeper understanding of this vital sector,” said Dr Matibiri.
