AUGUST is the time of year that the Zimbabwean farming community and related national agricultural industries come together to showcase their products and homegrown agricultural produce at the Harare Annual Agricultural Show, now re-branded to Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), as part of the Society’s strategy to encompass and augment the event’s national image/outlook.
As Zimbabwe braces for a bountiful agricultural season in 2019/2020, the just ended, 109th Annual Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is a grounded and tangible testimony of the success of the Zimbabwean Government’s Command Agricultural Programme under the auspices of, and within, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, headed by the Honourable Minister, Retired Air Chief Marshall Perence Shiri and his respective deputies.
A reservoir of agricultural technical knowledge awaited those who attended the agricultural show.
With a viewer count of over 250 000 visitors, these statistics suggest that perhaps the annual agricultural expo should be extended to two weeks to allow small intensive workshops to be held for interested parties and new farmers to learn more about farming and the use of the machinery, technology and the various other products on display.
The indigenous Shona axiom:“Kudzidza hakuperi (Learning does not end)” informs that education is practiced as a continuous process and not a singular isolated event and should inform the philosophy of the Expo.
The extended duration would facilitate stakeholders in the agro-business industries to network and conduct business in a more conducive, less frenetic and crowded space.
Given 67 percent of our national wealth is anchored in agriculture and that 100 percent of our food security mandate depends on agro produce, we cannot afford to take this national enterprise lightly.
This year, in particular, quantifiable national progress was seen in the exciting range of agricultural produce, mechanisation and technology now available in the country, bolstered to anchor and usher Zimbabwe’s agriculture into the 21st Century.
Addressing guests at the official opening of this year’s 109th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, His Excellency, President E.D. Mnangagwa, who is also the patron of the Agricultural Society and initiator of the Command Agriculture Programme said: “…the Government’s dedication to the Command Agriculture Programme and the Presidential lnput Scheme, are there to facilitate the development of food security, mechanisation and modernisation of agriculture in Zimbabwe.”
He emphasised that there is need for continuous investment in the agricultural sector of Zimbabwe in order to improve its productivity and increase its market competitiveness.
In his speech, the President continued: “I exhort all relevant stakeholders to enhance our research competences to improve all sub-sectors in the agricultural field.”
Given global new-age technology, farming has become highly competitive – propelled by the use of ICTs and a rich body of new research on health and safety-conscious farming methods, farming in Zimbabwe today needs to make a quantum leap into the new Digital Age of farming methods.
This dynamic global trajectory of knowledge-based new age farming, calls for equally new and radically different approaches, attitudes and technologies that Zimbabwe needs to embrace and exploit in order to leverage national agricultural production and agro-education.
Embracing our Zimbabwean Government’s policy on enhancing productivity and industrialisation in the agricultural sector, the President commented that this year’s theme ‘Field to Industry; Produce, Connectand Develop’ resonates well with his Government’s policy.
Zimbabwean farmers need to be cognisant that farming on an international level has become one of the most lucrative investment opportunities for world trade and commerce, particularly in light of rising global food prices that have been escalating steadily since the mid-2000s in Europe, Asia and the Americas, including the more developed nations of Africa.
Our national agricultural industry and agro-related commercial activities constitute the most buoyant and lucrative socio-economic occupation for most ordinary indigenous citizens.
It is, however, our collective responsibility as Zimbabweans to nurture the growth, technical development and sustainability of our agro-industries that are naturally anchored on our God-given, bountiful land that sustains our national food security.
This year, I was particularly impressed by the livestock section that has fully embraced digital monitoring of pedigree cattle breeds through an initiative by the Livestock Identification and Tracing (LIT) services.
Such forward-looking innovation augurs well for the Command Livestock Programme.
In addition, critical new technologies for Zimbabwe such as displays of advanced solar power systems, designed to substitute the currently compromised conventional electrical power generation, caught the attention of many interested parties from both the commercial and agricultural sectors.
Renewable energy distribution sources in Zimbabwe would certainly help regenerate the future of agricultural production.
As always, credit is certainly due to this year’s Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, organisers for undertaking such critical work on the various displays and pavilions set up to encourage agro-commerce and education.
Their hard work and efforts this year attracted 530 exhibitors who will positively impact and improve the agro-based industries of Zimbabwe.
Agricultural shows facilitate a broad-based public education that not only are conscious-raising, but equip Zimbabwean citizens with knowledge, a vision and foresight for the future of the agricultural industry of Zimbabwe.
The events also serve as an interface and fulcrum for networking and garnering business opportunities between agricultural producers, commerce, buyers and the Government
Moreover, annual agricultural shows, such as the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, facilitate access to local, regional and world markets involved in agricultural production.
Furthermore, the national agro-expos serve as an educational and information hub, not only for farmers, but also the general public and need to be made more accessible to indigenous school children who will become our future farmers, leaders and consumers of our products.
Hence, more national agricultural strategies and educational expos need to be encouraged for such information and pertinent knowledge to reach all provinces of the nation for the future development and practical sustenance of the Zimbabwean people.
As we embrace new-world agricultural technologies, outdated rural and peri-urban subsistence level farming should make way for new, carbon-free and environmentally safe technologies, up-dated agro-food processing methods and an advanced level of forward-planning for new Zimbabwean farmers in line with the changing climate, soil disposition and new digital-banking systems.
The crux of this year’s agricultural show was guided by the purpose for national support and facilitation of the agro-industries of the country and the promotion of its agricultural development.
The re-branded Zimbabwe Agricultural Show seeks to make a positive contribution to rural development whilst improving livelihoods.
In a spirit of national inclusivity, an outstanding aspect in this year’s show embraced the contribution of women and youths involved in the agricultural pursuits of Zimbabwe through the ongoing Command Agriculture Programme.
In order to reinstate and fortify our status as the bread basket of the region, more national public agricultural education should be made accessible to our indigenous farmers.
Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a writer, lecturer, musician, art critic, practicing artist and corporate image consultant. He is also a specialist post-colonial scholar, Zimbabwean socio-economic analyst and researcher. E-mail: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com