Kadoma Agric Show Runs Against All Odds
– as 34 companies exhibit
By Lloyd Mwale in Kadoma
Despite a protracted leadership wrangle which threatened the 110th edition of the 2023 Kadoma Agriculture Show Society event to run, the three-day long Kadoma premier agriculture exhibition showcased last week saw a record 34 exhibitors at Agriculture Exhibitions Grounds.
Newly-rebranded Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC) previously Agribank, CABS, NMB all exhibited at the Kadoma Agriculture Exhibition Grounds alongside traditional seed, fertilizer houses and farmers drawn from Kadoma farming districts of Mhondoro-Ngezi and Sanyati
Running under this year’s theme, Infrastructure Development Through Public-Private Partnerships, the guest of honour, Kadoma Agriculture Show Society Patron, Prosper Mutongerwa called on all farmers in the district to play a significant role in feeding the nation and in economic development through farming.
“Shows provides a platform for farmers, the business community and the general public to interact and, in the 2023 agriculture season we were hoping to sustainably increase production for various grains in order to achieve food sufficiency, feeds and livestock production,” said Mutongerwa.
“In the forthcoming 2023-24 agriculture season, the government aims to sustainably increase crop production and productivity so as to surpass the national requirements which currently stands at 2.2 metric tonnes of grains as well as 400k metric tonnes of livestock feeds. With the forecasts of an El Nino in the 2023/24 season, there is a need for anticipatory action and the relevance of urgency lies in the correct dissemination of information. To advise farmers regarding the implications of a potentially reduced rainfall and the measures farmers should take to protect their crops, livestocks and livelihoods, the government has an agriculture vision and the key plans shall see farmers entering into contracts under the National Enhanced Productivity Scheme (Command Agriculture) with CBZ and AFC banks for inputs and tillage support, ” he said.
“The government plan shall also see A1 and communal farmers receiving inputs under the Presidental Input Scheme (Pfumvudza). The overall government plan is to see a boost in agriculture productivity and to reduce the country’s imports.
“So farmers in Kadoma districts, this cannot be done by people in other centres alone but as Mhondoro-Ngezi and Sanyati districts farmers, see that you participate in building the nation so as to be self-sufficient in food, livestock feeds and to be a fibre in industrial growth. With the summer season fast approaching, let us commit to undertake our agriculture action with a focus and vigour so as to make the season a resounding success. Hopefully this exhibition will not only reveal the progress made in agriculture, commerce and industry in Sanyati and Mhondoro-Ngezi districts only, but must also be seen in contributing to the further expansion and development of the country,” said Mutongerwa.
The Kadoma Show Society Patron also said the government vision was to see a transition from subsistence farming into commercial entities.
“It is the government’s vision to see 18k A2 farmers becoming businesspersons and 360k A1 farmers becoming Small-to-medium entities,the transition from subsistence farming into commercial entities is an inclusive journey that only government and the financial service providers partake but with us farmers included,” said the Kadoma Show Society Patron.
Show Society vice chairperson, Chripen Dirao thanked all the exhibitors who braved the toxic environment to exhibit at this year’s event and promised a better and vibrant show next year.
“We would to thank those who braved the toxic environment to take part in the 110th edition of Kadoma Agriculture Show Society event against all odds over leadership wrangles. My executive has set sight on the improvements of all structures as enunciated in this year’s theme, we are calling private and public entities to partner with us for the developments of these infrastructures,” said Dirao, Kadoma Agriculture Show Society vice chairperson.
Cotton Research Institute walked away the overall winner at the Kadoma Agriculture Show Society event and in the school’s category Sir John Kennedy scooped the top prize.
