The inaugural farming B2B platform will gather commercial to emerging and small-scale farmers, as well as key officials from regional governments, agro associations, NGOs, aid, development and research agencies; agro dealers, traders and retailers; suppliers, consultants and technical experts, as well as venture capitalists, investors and bankers.
“The role of private sector is highly recognised in the agricultural policy, strategies and programmes,” says Dr David Nyange, policy advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania, a supporting partner of the upcoming Agritech Expo Tanzania.
He adds: “As industrialisation is at the top of the current development agenda, the technologies that will be displayed at the expo have potential to play a great role toward the commercialisation of agriculture which is necessary for ensuring sustainable supply of raw materials to the industry.”
Other host partners for the event are the Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT), the Tanzanian Horticulture Association (TAHA), the Southern Agricultural Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) and the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Arusha.
Global farming equipment suppliers John Deere and its distributor in the country, LonAgro Tanzania, are gold sponsors for the event. “The horticultural sector is an awakening giant,” says Harald Peeters, MD Tanzania of the vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan Q-Sem, a bronze sponsor at Agritech Expo. He adds: “Tanzania has plenty of land, enough water and year-round sunlight. I am looking forward to an expo which raises the awareness of the government to the fact that the private sector is a partner in development, creating thousands of jobs, educating workers and building the nation.”
Other agri suppliers that have already confirmed their presence at the event include Afrivet, Ford, CMC Automobiles, Hughes Motors, Maji, HortiPro, Irrico, Rivulis, AMDT, FNB, Lindsay Africa, Balton, Kibo Seed, Neptun Boot and TFSC.
