The tenth national agricultural exhibition will start, tomorrow at Mulindi Agri-show Grounds in Gasabo District, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced. The show is organised under the theme, “Agriculture Financing for Sharer Prosperity will run from June 4 to June 11.” Speaking to The New Times, on Monday, Norbert Sendege, the director general in charge of Crop Production at the ministry and coordinator of the Agri-show organisation team, said that more than 200 exhibitors are expected to participate in the expo including companies, cooperatives, individual farmers, research institutions and insurance companies. The exhibitors will come from 20 countries from Europe, Asia, the East African Community and other African countries. The exhibition will focus on innovations in the agriculture sector. All organisational activities are in line with” Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture in Rwanda – Phase (PSTA III), a Rwanda agricultural policy that focuses on both increased production of staple crops, livestock and better involvement of the private sector to increase production and value addition, Sendege explained. Some of the services that will feature in the fair include; a vehicle for soil testing, plant clinic mobile infrastructure for immediate plant disease diagnosis, milk competition and rewarding of best milk collection centres among others. He encouraged individual farmers, cooperatives and other sector partners to participate in the exhibition and share lessons and experiences the exhibition, ask questions and learn from it. “We promise to provide participants and visitors a conducive environment that includes, but not limited to security and entertainment,’’ he said. The annual exhibition acts as an important window for displaying agricultural technology and innovations. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
