Agriculture show preparations at advanced stage

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI

Preparations are at an advanced stage for the national agricultural show which will be held on August 27. The show will be officially opened by the Managing Director of Stanbic Botswana, Leina Gabaraane.

The theme for this year's show is  'Transforming agriculture in the wake of climate change'. 
Speaking in an interview, the Chief Agricultural Information and Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Boikhutso Rabasha said they are working around the clock to prepare for the event.

For the first time, this year's show will be held at the spacious new agricultural show ground which is located along the Sir Seretse Khama Airport road.  Rabasha said the animal kraals which were being constructed at the show ground, are almost complete, adding that they are also paving the site.  She said the show will occupy nine hectares of the 81 hectares plot.

"We have built temporary kraals for small livestock like pigs and goats," she said.   She added that before the end of this week, they anticipate to have set up the livestock judging ring, while the perimeter fence surrounding the venue has also been erected.

She revealed that exhibitors will be farmers from all over the country including both pastoral and arable farmers.
"We will also have exhibitors from the private sector," she said. 

The official said they are working to reticulate water to the showground as well as power.  As for power, she said, they have taken contingency measures in case Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is not able to connect electricity in time.  She said they would have generators on stand by.   They also have partnerships with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Botswana Prisons, who will contribute with labour.

"We believe that everything will be in place on the scheduled date.  There are challenges here and there but we will deal with them.  The main challenge is water," she said.   Rabasha also commended the contribution of the private sector.  She said there are numerous companies who are sponsoring the event, adding that they are still expecting more. 

"We will host a ceremony next week to receive cheques from the sponsors.  We have approached quite a number of sponsors.  We are still appealing for more sponsors," she declared.

Rabasha said in future, they want to hand over the show to farmers and the private sector, and have the ministry only provide technical assistance. 

This is the fourth time the ministry is organising the agricultural show as a separate entity. In the past, the agricultural exhibition was held as part of the Gaborone International Fair. Some of the main attractions at the national agricultural show will be the inaugural horse racing event.

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