SOME of Zimbabwe’s farming organisations this week participated at the 5th AgriBusiness Africa Conference in South Africa, in a business networking platform meant to improve the agricultural face of Africa. The 2011 conference and briefing held in Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, comes within the context of agricultural development in Africa with food security being top priorities in the world economic scene. Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) is at this conference represented by its president Silas Hungwe and the executive director Paul Zakariya. This year’s annual Agribusiness Africa Conference began on May 17 and ends today. The annual event, organised by Grain South Africa (GSA), provides a unique opportunity to all manufacturers and distributors of agricultural machinery, products and services to exhibit and demonstrate their vast range of products to their targeted customers who are the farmers of AFRICA. Spread over a 24-hectare exhibition area, with an additional 80 hectares allocated for equipment demonstrations, NAMPO draws more than 600 exhibitors who are largely end users including farmers, buyers, consultants, consolidators, distributors and agents. In the past, the event attracted more than 64 000 visitors from eight countries most of whom are commercial farmers and business people. The Pavilion includes a business networking lounge with bar and catering facilities. The NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the world and is highly esteemed by both the local and international farmers and businessmen. Visits to various prominent commercial farms including dairy, poultry, beef, and vegetable and grain production operations are usually done during such events to help the visitors learn techniques on how they can improve their farming experiences and technologies in their respective countries. Others agribusiness enterprises like aquaculture, agro-processing, equipment manufacturing and other farming input suppliers of seed, fertiliser, crop protection and animal health care were also arranged during this time. Interaction with institutions like the National Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Agricultural Research Council, the Agricultural Business Chamber and many others are facilitated. Such exhibitions are cost-effective and professionally managed to enhance farming and agribusiness success in Africa.