Online Reporter
Sione Amidu,Gwanda Correspondent
THE 67th edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show ended in Gwanda on Saturday with a strong call for farmers to go beyond production and embrace value addition to unlock new markets and boost incomes.
Running under the theme “Farm to factory: Unlocking industrial growth,” the show brought together more than 150 exhibitors — from smallholder farmers to large-scale producers, agro-dealers, NGOs and Government departments.
Beyond being a showcase, the event became a platform for forging partnerships, exploring business opportunities and envisioning how the province can turn its abundant agricultural and natural resources into sustainable wealth.
Businessman and farmer Mr Jim Ross Goddard, who officially opened the show, underlined the need for beneficiation.
“We do not grow these products for others to benefit. Our effort has to be complemented by transforming the product in the factory, thereby adding value and benefiting the farmer and the community,” he said after touring exhibition stands.
Mr Goddard also urged established farmers to mentor emerging ones, stressing that the show created opportunities for budding farmers to connect with service providers and potential buyers.
Matabeleland South Agricultural Show Society president Ms Sheron Dhewa said the event celebrated resilience in both crop and livestock farming, despite challenges such as foot-and-mouth disease.
“It is time for us to transition towards value-added farming by adopting modern techniques and innovativeness. We can indeed transform our produce into high-value products that command better prices at both local and international markets,” she said.
Ms Dhewa said the society has a vision of upgrading the showground into a state-of-the-art exhibition park to rival major fairs such as ZITF and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Albert Ngulube, reinforced the call for value addition, pointing out that natural resources like amacimbi, marula and baobab in Matabeleland South should benefit local communities through processing and marketing, instead of being harvested and taken away by outsiders.
“Let us add value to these, grow our economy, add to the GDP and develop our communities,” he said.
The annual show once again strengthened cross-border cooperation, with Gwanda Municipality hosting Makhado Municipality from South Africa as part of the exhibitors, further cementing bilateral agricultural ties.
Despite livestock numbers being slightly affected by foot-and-mouth restrictions, the show featured a diverse range of displays, including seed companies, funeral parlours, Government ministries, NGOs, and both crop and livestock farmers.
The Matabeleland South Agricultural Show continues to grow in stature, positioning itself not only as a provincial showcase but as a platform for regional economic transformation.
