Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) has revealed that more than 300 exhibitors have confirmed their participation for this year’s upcoming Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, with expectations that the final tally could reach as high as 580.
The 115th edition of the show will occur in the week of August 21 to 29 under the theme Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture, Industry and Community.
It comes at a time when the 2024/25 agricultural season has seen better rains, which experts expect will lead to better output.
During a media briefing in Harare yesterday ahead of the upcoming show, ZAS chief executive officer Rufaro Gunundu said 304 exhibitors had confirmed their participation in this year’s show.
“At this stage, 304 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in this year’s Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, with expectations to reach approximately 580 exhibitors,” he said.
She added that the exhibition space allocated for this year’s show was about 62 710,64 square metres (sqm).
“In terms of exhibition space, we have already allocated 62 710,64sqm, steadily progressing toward our target of 89 000sqm. The strong uptake is a clear reflection of the show’s continued relevance and appeal across sectors,” Gunundu said.
This year, ZAS celebrates 130 years of agricultural excellence, innovation and resilience.
“The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show remains a cornerstone event on our national calendar, a proud tradition that brings together farmers, agribusinesses, policy makers, and communities to showcase the remarkable achievements of our agricultural sector,” Gunundu said.
“It is more than just an exhibition. This event serves as a dynamic platform to reflect on the progress we have made, engage in meaningful dialogue around the challenges ahead, and explore new opportunities to drive growth and sustainability in our agricultural economy.”
This year’s edition will feature a “Business-to-Business” engagement that will help bring together stakeholders on innovative drives to boost the country’s economy.
“These strategic platforms are designed to bring together senior executives, industry experts, and government stakeholders to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore innovations that can drive the growth of agricultural enterprises,” Gunundu said.
Through these focused interactions, ZAS aims to foster collaboration, address sector-specific challenges and unlock new opportunities within both local and international markets.
Gunundu said the livestock section for this year’s show will comprise experts drawn from both Zimbabwe and the region, ensuring a high standard of evaluation across all categories.
“All animals exhibited must be accompanied by a valid foot and mouth disease certificate as a requirement for participation,” the ZAS boss said.
“To date, livestock entries reflect strong interest across the board, with the following numbers recorded; beef and dairy cattle — 120 entries, goats — 78 entries, sheep — 68 entries, pigs — 26 entries, rabbits — 84 entries, poultry — 105 entries,” Gunundu said.
“With such a diverse and competitive field, this year’s livestock competitions promise to be both intense and exciting, showcasing the very best in animal husbandry and breeding.”
To enhance visitor convenience, additional entry gates have been installed along with expanded and more secure parking.
According to ZAS, the show attracted over 250 000 visitors and featured about 560 exhibitors last year and this year’s expectation is even higher.
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