The main challenge faced by farmers in the agri sector is limited and sometimes lack of access to finance or financial products that will facilitate the adoption of technologies, and effectively participate in markets. This is according to Sylvester Kalonge, Country Director, iDE Zambia, who have just come on board as a silver sponsor for the upcoming Agritech Expo Zambia, taking place in Chisamba from 11-13 April 2019.
“iDE Zambia has been working to transform lives of smallholder farmers using market-based approaches” says Mr Kalonge. He adds: “to achieve this goal, it is cardinal to develop strategic partnerships with private sector players along the various value chains. Agritech Expo Zambia provides an excellent platform to showcase our strategies, identify potential private sector partners and consolidate relationships with current partners.”
He continues: “we are currently implementing a project known as Smallholder Agricultural Reform through Enterprise Development (SHARED), whose purpose is to reduce rural poverty through the creation of sustainable income and livelihood opportunities. The project, funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), supports lifting of smallholder farmers out of poverty by shifting to more lucrative agricultural value chains and adopting technical and business practices that support enterprise growth.”
iDE* Zambia was established in 1997 to connect smallholder farmers to input and output markets as well as train them to see farming as a business. The organisation accomplishes this through its active network of 386 farm business advisors (FBAs), serving more than 90,000 clients across Northwestern, Central, Copperbelt, Lusaka, and Southern province in Zambia.
*International Development Enterprises (iDE)
To read the full interview with Mr Kalonge, go to the event website or click here: http://www.agritech-expo.com/iDE-interview
Local + global = Agritech Expo!
This year the event at GART is expected to bring more than 20 000 visitors from some 39 countries, over 220 local and international exhibitors, including country pavilions so far from Germany, China, Czech Republic, the European Union, Italy and the UK, with 3500 VIPs and large scale farmers and 150 members of the media. The free AgriTEACH workshop sessions focus on sectors such as crops, finance, irrigation, machinery, equipment and livestock.
Agritech Expo Zambia is free to attend for all visitors that pre-register.
Multi-award winning Agritech Expo
Last year Agritech Expo Zambia won the AAXO ROAR award for Best Africa Bound Trade & Consumer Exhibition in the 12000+ sqm category at the AAXO ROAR Organiser and Exhibitor Awards in Johannesburg which honour excellence in the exhibition and events industry on the continent. In 2017 the event also won for Best Trade & Consumer Exhibition 12000+ sqm and for Distinction in Social Responsibility.
The expo has an outreach programme at the local Golden Valley Basic School, where, with the assistance of numerous event sponsors, it is assisting the school with much needed infrastructure upgrades, equipment supplies and management of the school’s farm.
Agritech Expo Zambia is owned by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.
Agritech Expo Zambia 2019:
Farmers Preview Day
Thursday 11 April 2019 | 09:00 – 17:00
Open to all agricultural professionals
Friday 12 April 2019 | 09:00 – 17:00
Saturday 13 April 2019 | 09:00 – 15:00
Location: Gart Research Centre, Chisamba, Zambia
