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Elita Chikwati

Agriculture Reporter

The 2020 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show will strictly be for business exhibition, with some of its events held virtually in an effort by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 110th show will be held at the Exhibition Park from October 28 to 31 under the theme “Synergies for Growth-Cooperate. Collaborate. Complement” to rally support for the cause of agriculture and attendant value chains for increased “Production, Productivity and Profitability”.

Preparations for the agricultural show are underway and 120 companies have already registered to participate at the annual event.

Some companies have started working on their stands.

The annual show is normally held at the end of August, but this year it was postponed to the end of October owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The show will strictly be open to business, with a maximum of 600 exhibitors, to facilitate social distancing between exhibits.

ZAS acting chief executive, Engineer Enkelbert Makaure, yesterday said this year’s show will be a hybrid, with some aspects being virtual and others live.

“There will be limited public visits,” he said. “Entertainment such as arena events and musical shows have been dropped in order to avoid crowding.

“It will be a show with a difference that will be a demonstration of the resilience of the Zimbabwean people and their determination to succeed under the most trying conditions, especially the unprecedented challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This year’s show is a business to business exhibition and we urge companies to take advantage of this platform to showcase how they have adapted to the new normal and innovations that they have come up with in the face of Covid-19.”

Eng Makaure said for commercial trophies this year, focus will be on companies exhibiting the best adaptation measures or innovations in response to the pandemic.

During the show days, there will be two interfaces to provide executives, captains of industries and Government officials an opportunity to meet and network.,

Activities include a business breakfast meeting on the opening day and a mining and agriculture breakfast meeting focusing on leveraging linkages and synergies for sustainable economic growth on October 30.

Eng Makaure said ZAS had put in place safety and health measures to ensure the safety of both exhibitors and visitors.

“Temperature checks, sanitisation, and all Government related regulations on Covid-19 shall be strictly adhered to,” he said. “Gates and ticketing issues with improved convenience are being put in place to ensure visitor convenience, including enlarged and additional secure parking space.”

ZAS chairman, Mr Ivan Craig, said farmers will still participate at the show, but the number has been limited from the usual 300 to only one representative per district.

“We will work with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement to select the best farmer at district level,” he said.

“The farmers will be judged as has been the situation during the past shows.”

ZAS said it’s theme was important in that over 70 percent of the population depended on agriculture for survival.

“Our take is that Vision 2030 must prioritise the 1,6 million to 1,8 million rural households, some 10 million people, to uplift their socio-economic status, in a holistic manner, addressing housing, water, sanitation, infrastructure, and social services, among others,” said ZAS in its theme.