Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Sunday News Reporter
EXHIBITORS at the 66th edition of the annual Matabeleland South Agricultural Show have expressed optimism over the business growth opportunities presented by the exhibition platform.
This year’s show which ran from Wednesday to yesterday was held under the theme “Smart Interventions in Agribusiness: Our Top Priority”.
It sought to promote adoption of value addition and beneficiation among farmers and climate smart measures to mitigate the effects of the prevailing El Nino-induced drought.
It was officially opened by Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga who is the wife of Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga. Crop and livestock farmers, Government departments, various Ministries, parastatals, seed companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, uniformed forces and funeral parlours were among the exhibitors.
The show is an opportunity for farmers from the province to exhibit their products. It is also an opportunity for various departments and organisations to showcase their services.
Ms Lethi Ncube, a crop farmer from Gwanda said she has gained a lot through engagement with other farmers.
“Exhibiting here has helped me to gain exposure. I was able to interact with fellow farmers and I learnt a lot on how I can improve my production. I was also inspired by the displays of my fellow farmers who are also exhibiting. We also managed to interact with farming expertise which has helped to enlighten me.
“I also got to engage with financial Institutions and I learnt a lot about the available financial opportunities which can help to enhance my operations,” she said.
Mr Marshal Maphosa who is an upcoming artist said exhibiting at the agricultural show has helped to present him with an opportunity to showcase his business. He said he hopes to establish business linkages that will market his skills.
Matabeleland South Agricultural Show Society president, Ms Sharon Dewa said this year’s theme was derived from the prevailing El Nino-induced drought. She said the agricultural show has to serve as a platform where farmers are capacitated in order to adopt climate-smart practices.
“The country is experiencing an El Nino-induced drought and Matabeleland South which is a livestock region has been greatly affected. Through this year’s agricultural show we want farmers to see and learn about climate smart measures which they can adopt to mitigate the effects of the prevailing drought. This situation hasn’t only affected farmers but also affected various partners that work with farmers.
“We are one of the hard hit provinces but we can still strive in livestock production, small grain farming and we can also maximise in value addition. Under value addition we will go an extra mile as a show society as we are going to be supporting farmers, especially small scale will prizes like machinery which will help them maximise value addition,” she said.
Ms Dewa said agriculture is one of the main drivers of the Matabeleland South provincial economy which is largely rural and hence farmers need to be capacitated to sustain their operations in the face of climate change.
Bongani Ndlovu