Rush for Agric show stands

About 90 percent of exhibiting stands for the annual Midlands Agricultural Show have been taken up, a few days before the show starts.

The show is targeting to attract around 30 000 visitors during the 2018 edition to be held from August 16 to 19 in Gweru.

In an interview yesterday, Midlands Show Society chairperson Mr Augustine Mupakurirwa said preparations are at an advanced stage, adding that 90 percent of available stands had already been taken up by exhibitors.

The show will run under the theme: “Steering the economy to vibrancy”.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Perrance Shiri will be the guest of honour.

“About 90 percent of our stands have been taken up by exhibitions both new and old,” said Mr Mupakurirwa.

“The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Perrance Shiri will be the guest of honour.

“We have shifted the dates from the traditional July 26 to 29 to August 16 to 19 because of the harmonised elections and this year we are expecting around 30 000 people to attend, which will be an improvement from last year’s figure of 20 000.”

Mr Mupakurirwa said 180 exhibitors confirmed their participation, adding that 18 were exhibiting for the first time.

“By the end of the week, the figure might have gone up since we are at 90 percent full,” he said.

“We have new exhibitors like Zambezi Bulk Irrigation, Allied Timbers and Agricura.

“Some of our frequent exhibitors include National Tyre Services, TM Group of Companies, MacDonald Bricks and the Zimbabwe Land Commission have also confirmed participation.”

Mr Mupakurirwa said they were not sure about cattle exhibition due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in some parts of the province.

“So, we might have very few cattle or no cattle at all,” he said.

“If the cattle happen to come, all of them must be sold since none will be taken back as a way of controlling the foot and mouth disease.”