AFWE plays a vital role to empower emerging farmers

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The annual workshop and expo has grown from a local farming sector exhibition in Gauteng to a quartet of three-day shows additionally hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the North West Province.

"There has been increasing interest in the African Farmer's Workshop and Expo since the inaugural show, and that prompted our decision to expand the event into the other provinces; the ultimate aim is to stage the expo in all provinces of South Africa, culminating in a flagship Johannesburg expo," says Mahlatse Masimini, CEO of Moshate Media, organisers of the event.

Focus on key elements

Part of the popularity and success of AFWE is its focus on key elements of the farming business such as a breeder's expo, the Agri Youth Indaba and the Agri Bizniz Summit. Other components include an indoor expo, outdoor expo, and the free daily workshops.

"Exhibitors from the broad farming trade understand the importance of educating their markets about the complexities of running a small agricultural or livestock enterprise," says Masimini. "The shows provide an invaluable opportunity for them to connect with farmers and engage with other knowledge leaders in the industry."

Platform for training

"The show aims to promote and empower farmers in South Africa and across the SADC region, especially small and emerging enterprises, and to assist them in accessing much-needed finance and resources," continues Masimini. "It's also a platform to facilitate training and skills development for farmers, encourage better production practices and the use of agricultural resources, share information on how to expand and sustain farms, and instil the spirit of entrepreneurship."

Participants at this year's show can expect some exciting new features, aimed at increasing value for sponsors and exhibitors. Visitor badges will be colour coded according to sectors, for example fresh produce, dairy, livestock, etc. "This will enable exhibitors to identify show visitors from specific sectors, saving time and enabling them to get maximum exposure to their specific target markets at the show," explains Masimini. "We will also invite procurement managers and business development managers to this year's event, as business-to-business interaction is a vital component of the show."

Themes for summit

The popular two-day AgriBizNiz Summit will be back this year, the theme for day one covering 'Sustainable Food Production to address Food Security in Africa'. The theme for day two is 'Promoting Trade and Investment Appeal to drive Agribusiness Growth'.

The popular Agri Youth Indaba follows objectives of the National Youth Development Agency to provide a platform for young aspiring farmers to discover insights into farming and agriculture as a potential career after finishing school.