Zambian President Lungu’s visit to Agritech Expo gives “much-needed political buy-in” - ZNFU

CHISAMBA, Zambia - May 5, 2015 - PRLog -- The second Agritech Expo in the heart of Zambia’s agri community in Chisamba in April drew more than 11 700 visitors, including the country’s President Edgar Lungu,the Vice President, Mrs Inonge Wina, the Zambian and German agri ministers and many other dignitaries and agri experts.

“The President’s visit was a very significant boost, as it gave the much needed political buy-in especially going forward” says Dr Evelyn Nguleka, President of the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), owner of Agritech Expo. “It is gratifying to note that the Expo had support from farmers, agri-business firms and policy makers.”

Bigger and better
Dr Nguleka says this year’s Agritech Expo at the GART Centre “was much bigger and better” with more than 11 700 visitors, over 100 exhibitors and 150 members of the press. She adds: “the livestock arena was one of the most interesting inclusions to the Expo and the interest in livestock cut across all stakeholders.”

As the only business-to-business platform in the sector, Agritech Expo once again drew thousands of small scale farmers as well as owners of commercial enterprises, to engage and conduct business with some of the world’s leading suppliers to the agricultural industry. From live crop trials and machinery demonstrations, the event serviced the needs of the entire agri-value chain in Zambia and its neighbours.

Agritech Expo also offered a range of free, practical workshops to assist farmers in the use of the latest technologies to improve their productive capacity and to become more competitive. Local agri experts were furthermore on hand with free financial advice that was specifically geared towards to the agricultural sector and meeting Zambian challenges. Says the ZNFU’s Dr Nguleka: “The most discussed topic was access to the right technologies and mechanization, as well as access to finance. It tells us that these are the most immediate needs among farmers in Zambia.” The ZNFU has over 600 000 smallholder farmer members.

Agritech Expois organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

According to Dr Nguleka, “the next event is planned to even be better. A number of new surprises are lined up but they will be communicated as the event nears.” The dates for the next Agritech Expo are 14-16 April 2016, also in Chisamba.

Comments from exhibitors at Agritech this year:

- “Agritech Zambia 2015 presented Buhler with an opportunity to strengthen our footprint in Zambia and create awareness of the Buhler brand.  We had the opportunity to show case another Buhler innovation, the Isigayo 2t/hr maize will, with great success and many interested customers.  Thank you to the Agritech team for making this event possible” – Buhler Group

-          “Extremely well organised by a Cape Town company and managed on site with its own people.  I saw no qualitative difference with Harrogate's Yorkshire Show that is a benchmark event.  The purpose was to make contact with potential distributors and an employee, both were achieved. As an indicator of the show's reputation, Zambia's President, former Vice President and Minister of Agriculture made lengthy visits”. - Capstone

Website:  www.agritech-expo.com

Contact:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol

Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com