Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Livestock exhibition at the 105th Harare Agricultural will go ahead despite the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in some parts of the country and African swine fever in Mt Darwin.

There were no cattle at the Midlands Show last week owing to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Zimbabwe Agricultural Society public relations officer Ms Heather Madombwe said the six-day show starts today and ends on Saturday.

“We have 300 entries on the livestock section,” she said. “This year, we will have a bull and goat sale. All agri-produce sections will have prizes and the prizes have been revamped.

“The first prize will be a tractor and a cultivator, while the second prize winner will get a motorbike and an electricity generator.”

Ms Madombwe said this year, the winning Agritex officer would also receive a prize of a motorbike. The entry fees remain unchanged from last year, with adults paying $5 and children below 12 will pay $1.

Ms Madombwe urged people to visit the agricultural show in large numbers.

The show will run under the theme: “Enhancing Agricultural Productivity: Managing Climate Change” and will be officially opened on Friday, August 28.

ZAS will host the Annual National Agribusiness Conference on August 26, running parallel to the show. Last year, over 550 organisations exhibited on 710 stands, while 178 000 visitors entered the park during the 10-day event, with over 60 percent being adults.

For the past few years, the show ran for 10 days and some exhibitors complained that it was becoming expensive.

This year, show goers will be entertained by local musicians such as Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Leonard Zhakata and Mathias Mhere.