Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
The just-ended Manicaland Agricultural Show has been described as a resounding success as it managed to attract a record number of local and foreign exhibitors.
The show attracted foreign exhibitors from Mozambique and Kenya, which is a sign that it is growing in stature, while it had 154 local exhibitors compared to 149 last year.
Saturday, which was the family day and the busiest day, saw a massive 17 254 people entering the show.
The exhibitors were drawn from manufacturers, financial services, seed and fertiliser companies, parastatals, local authorities, among many others.
Manicaland Agricultural Show Society, president Mr Nomatter Manunure, said the show continues to grow from strength to strength in tandem with the growth being registered in the agricultural sector in the province.
He added that this year saw 27 new entrants as compared to last year’s 14.
“We had 154 exhibitors this year, up from 147 we had the previous year.
“We also managed to attract exhibitors from Kenya and Mozambique who were here for the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo and decided to stretch their stay and exhibit at the Manicaland Agricultural Show,” he said.
“Mozambicans were exhibiting nuts while Kenyans were showcasing their clothes. We are going to build on this momentum to attract more foreign exhibitors in the next edition.
“We are still compiling details and statistics, but exhibitors got value for their money as thousands of people came through. A number of deals were struck during the show.
“There was also an investment forum held during the show where several links were created to improve the agricultural system in the province and nation at large.”
Meanwhile, officially opening the show on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos challenged farmers in Manicaland to maximise on the province’s ecological advantage and scale up production in the agricultural sector for the benefit of the economy and country.
“Manicaland Province has all five ecological regions of the country, hence its capacity to produce more than all provinces in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The provincial economy is partly accounted for by its capacity to produce high-value crops for lucrative foreign and domestic markets.
“Agricultural production in Manicaland is largely bananas, peaches, mangoes, apples, lychee, avocado, macadamia nuts, Irish potatoes, tea, coffee, timber and many other agricultural value chains of interest to communal and smallholder farmers. The diversity in cropping and livestock patterns is feasible since Manicaland is home to agro-ecological regions 1 to 5 that provide opportunities dryland farming, irrigated agriculture, greenhouse farming for horticultural crops, forest plantations, tea and coffee production, specialised diary production, macadamia nuts and kiwi fruit in the province.”
Turning to the upcoming summer cropping season, the deputy minister said “As our farmers prepare for the 2025/26 agricultural season, the Government set a target of 3,2 million tonnes of cereals.
“The cereals include 1,2 million maize, 450 000 sorghum, 22 000 pearl millet, 17 000 finger millet and 2 000 rice.
“The target exceeds the country’s food and feed requirements by 33 percent. Agriculture stimulates growth in the input sector, such as seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and farm machinery. The demand for agricultural inputs creates business opportunities and stimulates innovation in the agribusiness sector. A strong agricultural base helps buffer against external shocks and fosters overall economic resilience.”
