Agritech Expo Reaches Out to Zambia’s Farming Community with Practical Programme

Chisamba, Zambia, February 19, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The upcoming Agritech Expo, taking place from 4-5 April at GART in Chisamba offers a practical and relevant programme addressing current challenges experienced by Zambia’s agricultural sector as well as looking at its development.

Says Agritech Expo’s programme director, Amore Swart: “There is no doubt that Zambia is the rising star of African agriculture with the potential to feed more than just the region. We are excited to partner with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) on this event and are also honoured that we will have a ministerial opening address, focusing on the future of farming in Zambia. The agri-community will hear first-hand the government’s plans to develop Zambia’s resources to further stimulate growth in this sector and actualising the National Development Plan by 2015.”

She continues: “We aim to be a practical and relevant event focused on the real challenges faced by the farmer in Zambia. For example, agricultural diversification has been a hot topic for several years and we have assembled a dynamic group of experts to discuss how to approach diversification from a rural and commercial point of view. Financing in agriculture is another sensitive issue which will be addressed in our conference programme."

Programme highlights at Agritech Expo include:

Opening session: Zambia as the rising star of African agriculture
Chairman: Zambia National Farmers Union, Zambia: Andrew Moffat, 1st Vice President

· Ministerial opening address: Outlook for the future of farming in Zambia

· Commercial farming as the backbone of development and prosperity
Guy Robinson, Chairman, Food Reserve Agency, Zambia

· Agricultural diversification: Easier said than done
Confirmed panellists:
- Musika, Zambia: Rob Munro, Senior Technical Advisor
- Zambeef, Zambia: Felix Lupindula, Head Corporate and Public Affairs
- Galaunia Farms Limited, Zambia: Michael Galaun: Executive Chairman

· Innovation in the Field: The AGCO Model Farm in Zambia
AGCO, Zambia: Nuradin Osman, Director Operation: Africa & Middle East

· Financing farmers to grow future capacity in agriculture
Stanbic Bank, Zambia: Charles Mudiwa, Chief Executive Officer

Supplier relationships within the developing agricultural value chain
Confirmed panellists:
- Lindsay Africa, South Africa: Senior Representative
- Zambezi Ranching & Cropping Ltd, Zambia: Graham Rae, Managing Director

Full-scale live agri event
The expo component of Agritech Expo is just as practical and hands-on says event director Liam Beckett: “it is a full-scale, live agriculture event offers from first-hand demonstrations of the latest in large scale agricultural machinery to live crop trials. We want visitors to really be able to get their hands dirty and be able to experience what is on offer.”

One of the greatest challenges facing farmers across Africa is maximising the potential of their arable land by increasing crop yields. Average crop yields across Zambia are 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare where there is potential to achieve in excess of 4 metric tonnes per hectare. Set on a 24 hectare site at the GART Research Centre in Chisamba, Agritech Expo has seven live crop trials taking place at the event. The fields were planted in November 2013 and will be ready in April 2014. The crop trials will give visitors a first-hand opportunity to see the effects of agro chemicals on crop growth and development. The outdoor expo will also feature dozens of agrochemicals, financial services, irrigation and livestock stands.

The expo is free to attend for all agricultural professionals who pre-register, or arrive with an event ticket.

Strong support
Global agri giant AGCO has already confirmed its exclusive diamond sponsorship for Agritech Expo while Stanbic Bank is a platinum sponsor. Other sponsors include: Action Auto, SARO, Afgri, BASF, Seed-Co, Du Pont-Pioneer, John Deere and Valtra.

Event dates and location:
Expo: 4-5 April 2014
Conference: 4 April 2014
Location: GART Research Centre, Chisamba, Zambia

Agritech Expo is organised by leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, Spintelligent Pty.