Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services scooped the best government stand following an exceptional display of what the government has achieved over the past five years at the Manicaland Provincial Agricultural Show that was officially opened this Friday.
The exhibition is still underway in Manicaland following the official opening of the provincial agricultural show this Friday. At least 132 exhibitors showcased their products and services at the highly attended event.
Deputy Director in the ministry Major (Retired) Leonard Tarwireyi said the award speaks to the excellent policy execution by the government in transforming the lives of ordinary people.
“On behalf of the ministry, we would want to thank the organisers who recognised the broad efforts being put by the ministry to tell the Zimbabwean story highlighting the milestones and successes achieved by the government over the past five years.”
Running under the theme ‘Innovation and Collaboration for Sustainable Growth’, the key focus of the show is on innovation and mechanisation in the agricultural sector in the wake of the devastating effects of climate change.
“As a government department we are offering our farmers new opportunities encouraging them to adapt smart agricultural concepts as well as embrace mechanisation,” said Agriculture Engineering, Mechanisation And Soil Conservation, Mr Aaron Mwanasawani.
Manicaland Agricultural Show Society(MASS) president Mr Nomatter Manunure expressed satisfaction with the show’s growth after attracting at least 132 exhibitors.
“As the premier exhibition platform in the Eastern parts of our beautiful Zimbabwe, we are seized with the mandate to consolidate, broaden and deepen value chains resulting in creating linkages between sustained agricultural productivity, industrial resuscitation and improved economic performance.
“MASS has come up with a total of 12 sections, Apiculture, Agricultural Produce, Commercial, Household, Needlework, Livestock, Flowers, Mining, Small Scale Farmers, Art & Craft, Drum Majorettes and Arena events thereby allowing a wide range of exhibits to be showcased at this year’s show. Our vision as MASS is to transform the showground from an ordinary showground tag to an exhibition park. This calls for strategic partnership with all stakeholders in Manicaland and beyond. There are a lot of untapped mutually beneficial opportunities which come from such partnerships.”
Officially opening the show, Permanent Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Edgars Seenza spoke on the importance of innovation towards enhancing business growth.
“These innovation hubs have seen the nation saving US$12 million in imports. Some ideas hatched in innovation hubs have so far led to the harnessing of the Marula Processing Plant in Rutenga Mwenezi and the Industrial Oxygen Plant in Mutare by Verify Engineering. As regards t&Agriculture, Zimbabwe is ranked high as one of the countries topping in digital agriculture innovation in Southern Africa.
“Digital agriculture innovations are mostly related to Digital Advisory services, Agri-digital financial services and Digital Procurement. Digital innovation technologies have the potential to transform agri-food systems by accelerating and integrating stakeholders and their work across the value chain and have the potential to increase the efficiency of agriculture for smallholder farmers including improved food availability.”
Meanwhile, state-owned timber company Allied Timbers scooped the overall best exhibitor’s award.
