By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) —The 116th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show opened on a relatively slow note on Monday, with exhibitors still putting final touches to their stands as the premier exhibition was expected to pick up pace in the coming days.
The annual showcase, running from 24 to 29 August under the theme “Powering Growth: Where Agriculture, Technology and Commerce Converge,” is expected to bring together farmers, businesses, investors, policymakers and technology providers to explore opportunities for economic growth and agricultural transformation.
While visitor traffic was initially subdued during the opening hours, activity around the exhibition grounds steadily increased as exhibitors continued sprucing up their stands, arranging products and preparing displays ahead of what is expected to be a busy week.
The slow start was largely attributed to exhibitors using the opening day to complete preparations, with several stands still being decorated and stocked as they positioned themselves to attract visitors and potential business partners.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) is targeting 630 exhibitors across 89 000 square metres of exhibition space.
Ahead of the opening, 350 exhibitors, including local and international companies, had already confirmed participation, with 6 000 square metres booked.
The strong exhibitor turnout comes amid growing participation across the agricultural value chain, with livestock and crop entries recording significant increases compared with last year.
Beef cattle entries have risen to 112 from 66 last year, while goat entries increased from 40 to 78, sheep entries climbed from 30 to 45, pigs from 26 to 34, rabbits from 84 to 99 and poultry entries more than doubled from 105 to 269.
The crops section is also expected to be a major attraction, with tobacco entries reaching 120, representing a 135 percent increase from last year.
The increase has been attributed to growing participation from Manicaland and Matabeleland South, as well as rising interest in both flue-cured and naturally cured Virginia tobacco.
Beyond the exhibition stands, this year the show is set to provide a platform for high-level business and policy discussions, including the Livestock Conference, Green Indaba, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, Annual National Agribusiness Conference and an AI in Agriculture conference being held in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and Courier Services.
The Home Industries section will also showcase products and innovations from women and young entrepreneurs, including food processing, leather products, crafts and cosmetics, highlighting the growing role of small businesses in inclusive economic development.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, 28 August, with organisers also promising entertainment, live performances, fireworks and family activities throughout the week.
ZAS has introduced several measures to improve the visitor experience, including online registration and ticket sales, additional entry gates and expanded parking facilities while security has also been strengthened through upgraded CCTV systems.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show remains a key platform for showcasing the agricultural potential of the country while strengthening linkages between agriculture, technology and commerce.
New Ziana
