2010 Agric show marks Zambians' sustainable development benefits

By Maimbolwa Mulikelela

THE just ended 84th Zambia Agriculture and Commercial show came against a backdrop of an unprecedented bumper harvest of 2.8million tonnes of maize recorded in the 2009/2010 farming season.
The bumper harvest will guarantee food security for the millions of Zambian citizens as well as additional income for the small-scale farmers who will sell their produce to the Food Reserve Agency.
The show theme ‘Sustainable development’ ties in well with the recorded bumper harvest as the vision of the country is to promote an efficient and competitive livestock and agriculture sector that assures of food security not just for the present generation but even the future generations to come.
The sustainable development theme was exhibited in a number of ways from the categories of participants, products on display and the interpretation of the theme for the event which fulfilled the Agriculture and Commercial Show Society of Zambia (ACSZ) concept of economic development.
Last year, the event was held under the theme ‘Challenge of Change’ and attracted more than 900 exhibitors and this year, the show recorded more than 1,000 exhibitors and expects a turnover of K4.5 billion.
This year ACSZ spent more than K3 billion on infrastructure and other expenses as compared to the same figure invested last year.
In their joint messages of welcome to the show, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peter Daka and his Livestock and Fisheries counterpart Bradford Machila emphasised the need to employ new farming technologies and efficiently utilise available resources in the most optimal manner to alleviate poverty.
“Our vision for developing agriculture is to promote an efficient, competitive and sustainable livestock and agriculture sectors, which assures food security and increased income. We are now looking at poverty alleviation and food security,” the two ministers said.
 They highlighted that sustainable development can only be achieved through stakeholder participation in both the provision of inputs and services to the farmers for growth of the industries.
Given the satisfactory achievement, Zambia this year recorded a bumper harvest of 2.8 million tonnes of maize in the 2009/2010 agriculture season. This is the highest quantity of maize ever registered in the country’s history.
This should be seen as an opportunity for Zambia to take full advantage of her rich natural resources by increasing production to enhance food security.
Sustainable development for the agriculture sector aims to ensure that food security and economic growth will improve the resource base as it is a basis on which empowerment is anchored.
Many exhibitors attended the event compared to previous years mainly because of the improved economic environment.
For the first time ever, new commercial banks namely United Bank of Africa (UBA) and International Commercial Bank which established operations this year participated at the show and were hosted  in the Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) pavilion in the COMESA hall.
Most farmers, agro businesses, commercial entities, public and private institutions who exhibited said this year’s theme provided opportunities for them to empower and strive to achieve high and sustainable productivity without depleting the future resources.
In line with the theme, National Housing Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing whose mandate is to provide affordable housing units and implement Government policies believes that the construction industry is the locomotive of economic development.
NHA chief executive officer Elias Mpondela said the industry pulls the economy forward through the provision of decent houses, wealth creation and job opportunities for Zambians.
“The construction industry supports several industries such as cement, timber, roofing, etc and this is why we call it the engine of economic growth,”Mr Mpondela said.
Standard Chartered Bank Zambia corporate affairs Southern Africa Luke Njovu said having a vibrant agriculture sector supported by Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) and the mining industry is key to sustainable growth.
The agriculture support industries, including those dealing in processing of seed were also on hand in full strength at this year’s show through companies like Zamseed, Seedco, Croppack and others.
One significant feature of the 84th edition of the show in terms of livestock farming was the display by smallholder farmers who showcased their potential as the future commercial farmers.
Interestingly, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) were conspicuously absent barely two months after their minister Felix Mutati launched the One-stop company registration shop in Lusaka to make business listing quicker, simpler and less costly.
It was expected that MCTI would bring together the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), Patents and Company Registration Office (PACRO), Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Immigration Department and the Citizen’s Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and all be able to operate under one roof for the harmonisation and simplification of the business registration process.
However, this was far from reality as ZDA, ZRA, CEEC and PACRO exhibited independently leaving showgoers to hunt for them as they were situated in different areas, thereby making business listing more expensive.
 It was worse for institutions like the Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and Zambia Weights and Measures who were also supposed to be hosted under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry that were completely missing.
For a company like the Zimbabwean Global Agriculture Development that deals in agro business that wanted information on how to establish an office in Zambia, failed to access the Ministry of Commerce and ZCC at the show grounds simply because they were not available.
Company marketing manager Matthew Chandahwa said there was need for efficiency and effectiveness of processes and information flows to enable investors make decisions immediately.
“We only managed to get the details from PACRO but we have not accessed other departments making it difficult for us to tell you when we will be able to set up an office in Zambia but we are very determined despite the challenges,” he said.
In terms of quality of exhibition, Lima hall was a centre of attraction and hosted farmers from all the provinces who displayed diversified crops responding to favourable weather conditions and good agricultural policies that favours increased production.
Generally, the farmers showcased many innovations and diversity in product display and interpretation of the theme, as many of their products were competing well in regional markets.
There was however nothing unique to offer at the Zambia Chambers of Small and Medium Business Associations (ZCSMBA) pavilion where there were very few exhibits and yet the association has affiliates in all districts.
Some exhibitors like Brehen Limited that deals in street lights, hardware, escalators, and elevators were unfortunate as they lost some equipment worth K2.2 million through theft.
 The issue of security has for a long time been a major concern at such events.
The show was not meant to be just another show time. In the manufacturing sector the 84th show witnessed a rebound in the manufacturing industries in Zambia, with many products bringing back memories when the country had a solid industrial base.
One of the splendid sights was the display by SARO Agro Industries Limited which exhibited diversified range of products which included Peanut butter making machines, generators, hammer mills, tractors, planters, water purifiers, feed mixers and others.
One of the best manufacturing firms, Afil Engineering, formerly Lusaka Engineering Company (Lenco) which manufactures truck trailers, and office and school furniture were also at the show.
The company’s stand had a range of trailers that the firm is manufacturing including sugar cane trailers, axle tippers, axle haulage trailers, conveyer belts for grain bags and flatbed, semi- trailers for trucks and tractors among others.
Another company was Tata Zambia which was exhibiting locally assembled TATA products including buses and trucks an indication that the company has bounced back to reclaim its stake in the market.
Other local manufacturing companies that were prominent in their category included Zambeef, with diversified products and innovation, Trade Kings and Zambia Sugar Company.
However, a good number of exhibitors showed why they had participated in the show.
Institutions such as the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) which won the ‘best Government exhibition award’ was committed to increase access in rural areas through renewable energy technologies for sustainable development.
 Some foreign exhibitors from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana Egypt, Tanzania and Nigeria described the show as a major springboard to economic growth that supports favourable opportunities for foreign investors.
Other foreign exhibitors were from Angola, Japan, Germany, China, Pakistan, Iran and India.
Commenting on this year’s show Angola Press attaché Reginaldo Dos Santos said Zambia offers Angola an opening to showcase its products and services.
“This has given us an opportunity to interact with other players in the region and further cement our relationship through continued business partnerships with the Zambian firms,” Mr Dos Santos said.
He, however, urged the show society to improve on the entry points as it was cumbersome to gain access to the show grounds due to increased volumes of showgoers seeking entry.
A representative from Zimbabwe Trade (Zimtrade) Thamba Ndlela said about 12 companies exhibited in the Zimbabwe hall that included Security Commission of Zimbabwe, CMC packaging, Standards Association of Zimbabwe among others and he was hopeful that there would be increased business in agricultural implements, protective clothing and African designs.
Mr Ndlela said the show offered a chance for the Zimbabwean business community to invest in Zambia especially in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
For sectors such as education, tourism and mining, there was a call for them to re-align their products and services in order to respond effectively to the economic growth.
There is indeed sustainable development in the Zambian economy as shown at this year’s show and this depicts a diversified economy.

Times of Zambia