Scott to grace agri-tech expo

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott and Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa, are today expected to grace the launch of the two-day Agri-tech Expo at the Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (GART) in Chisamba.

The exhibition, which ends tomorrow, April 5, will also be attended by more than 8,000 agri-professionals, 103 local and foreign firms as well as, 60 exhibitors from the farming sector, who will display latest technology in farming and post-harvest equipment, services and products.
Products and services will include seeds, fertiliser, crop protection chemicals and irrigation.
Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale said the Agric-tech Expo will assist in marketing not only the province but the country’s various areas of agricultural investment potential.

Ms Mutale said in an interview ahead of the two day event that, the province will always support such ventures aimed at contributing to the country’s development.

She said it is clear that the province’s contribution to the country’s development such as agriculture, cannot be ignored among many other activities.

Ms Mutale said first hand demonstration of the latest large-scale machinery and other farming technologies, were key to the country’s development.
‘‘We are happy that we are hosting the expo which will be used as an opportunity to market ourselves on what we are able to offer, ’’he said.
According to the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the Expo is the country’s first full-scale, live agricultural event, offering everything from a conference, technical workshops, live crop trials, to first-hand demonstrations of the latest in large scale agricultural machinery.