Online Reporter
Herald Reporters
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today officially open the 116th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, with a record 640 exhibitors showcasing technologies and innovations aimed at strengthening agricultural production and climate resilience.
Initially, Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was expected to officiate at the event but could not make it due to unforeseen circumstances.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka yesterday said preparations for the official opening had been completed.
“As you had heard previously, we were expecting the President of Namibia, but due to unforeseen circumstances, our President will be the guest of honour and we look forward to an exciting day,” he said.
The increased participation by exhibitors reflects the growing importance of the ZAS as a platform for showcasing developments across the agricultural value chain.
Minister Masuka said all available exhibition space had been taken up, with the number of exhibitors rising from 620 last year to 640 this year.
He said all the sections — tobacco, agricultural produce and livestock — were fully subscribed.
President Mnangagwa is expected to tour selected stands before officially opening the show, allowing him to interact with farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, manufacturers, financiers and other players exhibiting their products and technologies.
The show has increasingly evolved beyond a platform for displaying agricultural produce, becoming an important centre for knowledge sharing, technology transfer and business linkages.
Farmers are able to see new technologies in operation and assess innovations that can be adopted to improve productivity, reduce production costs and strengthen resilience to climate change.
Minister Masuka said the exhibition was particularly important as the country prepares for the 2026/27 summer cropping season, with El Niño conditions expected to pose production risks.
“I hope that farmers have gained quite a lot from this platform, learning and seeing agriculture in motion, because this show shows us the progress of agriculture in the innovations and technologies that farmers can adopt to accelerate climate-proofing agriculture,” Minister Masuka said.
Government has intensified preparations for the coming agricultural season, with farmers being encouraged to embrace climate-smart production methods, irrigation, water harvesting, mechanisation, drought-tolerant crop varieties and other technologies.
The focus on climate-proofing agriculture comes as farmers increasingly have to contend with unpredictable rainfall patterns and other weather-related challenges that can affect production.
The technologies being exhibited at the show are therefore expected to help farmers improve efficiency, conserve water and other resources, and maintain production even under difficult climatic conditions.
The full subscription of the tobacco, agricultural produce and livestock sections also highlights the breadth of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, from primary production to mechanisation, processing, marketing and supporting services.
Agriculture remains a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation, contributing to food security, employment, rural development and industrialisation under Vision 2030.
The sector also has strong linkages with manufacturing, transport, financial services, retail and other parts of the economy.
The 116th ZAS has attracted exhibitors from across the agricultural value chain, including farmers, manufacturers, input suppliers, financial institutions, research organisations and technology companies. Their participation provides a platform for farmers to establish business linkages, access information and explore technologies that can improve their operations.
