Harare Agricultural Show 2018

1. Exit Statistics

a) Show record attendance at 221 651, up 19.6% compared to last year’s 185 349. b) Commercial Exhibitors up 8.3 %, to 545 compared to 2017, with 503. c) Total exhibition space increase to over 82 268 square metres, marginally up by 3% from last year. d) All show sections fully subscribed, but a reduction in livestock exhibits due to Foot and Mouth Disease. e) Commercial sponsorship support up 112%, compared to last year. f) Attendance at business interfaces up 300 % to 1325 delegates. g) Sixth Annual National Agribusiness Conference record attendance at 400 delegates, up 42 % from last year.

2. Challenges

a) Managing growth and provision of quality services, including exhibitor ambience and convenience. b) Managing crowds, their security and facilitating smooth entry at gates.

3. Where to from here

a) From “Harare Agricultural Show” to “Zimbabwe Agricultural Show” to reflect the national character of the Show, and to broaden and deepen transformation from viewing and using the show as a “display platform” to “an ecosystem of opportunities” for the public, sponsors and exhibitors.

4. On the horizon: The Inaugural Agricultural Sector Survey: Septem ber-October 2018.

a) The survey aims to provide annual sector-wide, in-depth, objective, authoritative and independent analytical agriculture, agribusiness, machinery, equipment, irrigation and other pertinent information and data for farmers, government, business, local and foreign investors and other stakeholders to accelerate agricultural development, in support of government’s “Vision 2030” and the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business Mantra”. This collaborative survey being both an expatiation and expression of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society's rejuvenated mandate.