20 percent drop in agric exhibitions

The Chronicle

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter

THE 2019 Bulawayo Agricultural Show has suffered a 20 percent drop in participation compared to last year as a result of drought conditions experienced in the 2018/19 season, an official said yesterday.

The annual agricultural exhibition is being held concurrently with the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which kicked off in the City of Kings yesterday under the theme, “Propagating Industrial Growth through Trade and Investment”.

In an interview at the agricultural arena, Bulawayo Agricultural Society (BAS) administrative officer, Mrs Natalie Adlam, said the prevailing El-Nino-induced drought has affected the number of crop exhibitors at this year’s show.

“We have nine groups exhibiting crops this year from Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Gwanda, Bubi and Insiza Districts. Individual entries are 1 153 and commercial entries are 17. This represents a 20 percent drop in agricultural exhibitions from last year,” she said. 

“We’re, however, expecting a good exhibition despite the prevailing drought.”

Mrs Adlam said the cattle segment has maintained a positive trend in the fat stock section, with the exhibition of pedigrees having improved by 33 percent from 2018.

“We’re also excited that we recorded a 100 percent increase in sheep and goat exhibitions from last year’s entries. We have a total of 33 sheep and 58 goats. In poultry, a total of 140 birds have been entered while 652 Home Industries exhibitions are exhibiting. The bulk of the entries are from schools in the arts and crafts section,” she said.

Mrs Adlam said fat stock cattle were being exhibited by Azondo Investments, Aisleby Farm, Marcedale Farm, Biano Farm, BD Brahmans and one individual farmer.

Pedigree cattle, she added, were being exhibited by Matopo Research Station, Khami Prisons, Esigodini Agricultural College, Biano Farm, Caman Brahmans and an individual farmer.

— @pamelashumba1