Livingstone Mtetwa
CHIPINGE– Agricultural Show that was held from Friday, September 16 to 18 2022 running on the theme ‘Empowering, enhancing and uplifting businesses under Covid-19 era’, witnessed a lamentable turn up of both product and service exhibitors as well as spectators who came to witness this provincial annual occasion.
Chipinge Show Society Chairperson Samuel Maronga who gave the opening remarks on the official opening of the show on September 17 encouraged exhibitors to come in their numbers to showcase their products and services.
“It is with lamenting hearts that after organizing this show very few exhibitors turn up. We do encourage more exhibitors to come in support of the show in the following year, the more the exhibitors, the more the spectators and more encouragement to those who are willing to fund,” said Maronga.
The guest of honour Hardlife Chirairai who stood in for Chipinge Town Secretary James Mutemera, applauded those who managed to exhibit for a job well done.
“I would like to appreciate all exhibitors here present, you have done a great job by respecting this occasion and exhibiting your products and services, indeed a lot has been learnt.
“In order to achieve a middle income society by 2030, one of the major issues in that endeavour is food security. So I appreciate all farmers who are working tirelessly and utilising the rich fertile soils of farming region 1 in order to help the country to be food sufficient.
“It has however been noticed that farmers in Chipinge face a number of challenges inclusive of high input costs, soil fertility caused by low or high soil pH, poor post harvesting technologies, poor marketing technologies among others. Therefore, we call upon the government to help farmers in curbing these challenges so the vision of food security by 2030 can be achieved, “said Chirairai.
He concluded by encouraging the youth to participate in these events as they also learn from the best.
“The youth should shun abuse of drugs and venture into projects that are able to sustain their livelihood as they are the future of Zimbabwe. They have a task to grab as much knowledge from their seniors whilst they are still here,” concluded Chirairai.
Chipinge Agricultural Show comes only one week before Manicaland Agricultural Show to be held in Mutare and two weeks after the Harare Agricultural Show which the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew Matibiri, said attracted 14% more exhibitors than last year with a total of 575 exhibitors.
An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry.
The largest comprise a livestock show, a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment.
