Harare Agric Show kicks-off
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw
Monday, 20 August 2012 13:49
Farming Reporter
THE biggest show on the country’s calendar opens its gates today for the
102nd edition of the Harare Agricultural Show, with an improved security
system to monitor all criminal activities within the show grounds.
The Closed-Circuit Tel-evision (CCTV), which will be operating during this
year’s Harare Agricul-tural Show, is expected to assist security officers,
including the police, in monitoring all activities at the park, after a
child, Given Matapure disappeared from the exhibition grounds last year.
Given went missing during last year’s show and his remains were discovered
on the show grounds a few months after his disappearance.
This year’s Harare Agr-icultural Show runs from August 17 to 25.
Although parents have been apprehensive of taking their children to the
yearly event, Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) public relations manager,
Heather Madombwe, assu-red parents that this year’s event will be even
bigger and better considering they have more security officers monitoring
the grounds.
“We have increased our plain clothed security and we are working with the
Zimbabwe Republic Police to monitor the grounds. We have also installed CCTV
in and around the exhibition and especially on gates,” Madombwe said.
The Exhibition Park, the venue for the showcase, has 780 stands that include
commercial, industrial and agricultural exhibitions.
Among the exhibitors this year, countries such Malawi, Kenya Tanzania and
Italy making their maiden appearance to the exhibition, while farmers will
this year have the opportunity to buy breeding cattle at relatively low
prices.
A total of 1 000 exh-ibitors showcased their wares last year with 12 foreign
exhibitors from South Africa, Zambia, Demo-cratic Republic of Congo,
Nigeria, Ghana and Iran while China and the Netherlands participated for the
first time.
“The theme for the 2012 event which is ‘Innovative; inspirational,
informative’ allows exhibitors to incorporate technology on their stands to
inspire the next person.
“It will be a platform for sharing of ideas especially for farmers who needs
inspiration from others to boost their production hence the introduction of
cattle sale by negotiation,” Madombwe said.
Previously, ZAS has been auctioning the cattle but this year it will be a
platform for sellers and buyers to negotiate a favourable price.
The Show Society also re-introduced the amusement park for children’s
entertainment.
“The Show is running for nine days. We set aside two weekends to allow
parents to come with their children also giving a day out for the whole
family,” she added.
Last year there were 350 farmers exhibiting cattle, small livestock units
such as goats, sheep and chicken including livestock producers. – Farming
Reporter.