Jinja trade show opens July 18
Jul 04, 2011
Arrangements for the annual Source of the Nile National Agricultural and Trade show held in Jinja town have started in earnest with exhibitors already setting up their stalls.
By Frank Mugabi
Arrangements for the annual Source of the Nile National Agricultural and Trade show held in Jinja town have started in earnest with exhibitors already setting up their stalls.
Addressing a press conference at the exhibition grounds on Thursday, the president of Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), Charles Ogang, said the fair that goes into its 19th edition will take place from July 18 to July 24.
It will run under the theme: Promoting agricultural commercialisation to access the East African market.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the patron of the farmers’ federation, is expected to officially open the show on July 21.
“One of our main objectives is to create a platform where different stakeholders like farmers, researchers, manufacturers, consumers, traders, policy makers, students and finance institutions can meet to identify advances, drawbacks and comparisons related to the agro-sector,†Ogang said in his underscore of the show.
He said they had prepared to showcase improved technologies related to improved seeds, machinery and animal breeds, with emphasis on meeting standards commensurate to the wider East African market.
The fair will also display different forms of organic farming techniques, fertiliser usage, inorganic methods as well as various ranges of agro-chemicals available for adoption.
Other demonstrations will be based on water harvest management and irrigation technologies that can help farmers mitigate effects of the erratic weather patterns.
Ogang said stalls have been arranged to show a practical experience to value addition which the Government is frantically promoting to improve household incomes and eradicate poverty.
Already exhibitors have been registered in the field of energy, environmental conservation and management, food storage, preservation and medium scale food grading systems, he said.
The chairman Show Board, Charles Byabakama, who is also the Rukungiri LC5 chairman, noted that after emphasising value addition at last year’s fair, the farmers should this year exhibit products that are ready for the market.
He revealed that Israel, Turkey and Brazil will, for the first time, join a host of other countries showcasing a series of agricultural solutions.
Some of the institutions already on ground include the agricultural ministry, National Forestry Authority, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda Prisons, Makerere University, Madhvani Group, British American Tobacco (BATU), Presidential initiative on banana research and development organisation and East African Seed company.
Others are Sigma Knitting, Britannia, Bidco, Green Nile African Seeds, FINCA, Victoria Seeds and many others.
Ogang advised exhibitors who have not yet registered to do so as time is running out.
With thousands of people visiting the show, Jinja resident district commissioner, Katenda Luutu, who also attended the press conference, assured that security would be guaranteed for all property and visitors.
The show managers have set sh2,000 and sh4,000 as entry fees for students and adults respectively.
Arrangements for the annual Source of the Nile National Agricultural and Trade show held in Jinja town have started in earnest with exhibitors already setting up their stalls.
Addressing a press conference at the exhibition grounds on Thursday, the president of Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), Charles Ogang, said the fair that goes into its 19th edition will take place from July 18 to July 24.
It will run under the theme: Promoting agricultural commercialisation to access the East African market.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the patron of the farmers’ federation, is expected to officially open the show on July 21.
“One of our main objectives is to create a platform where different stakeholders like farmers, researchers, manufacturers, consumers, traders, policy makers, students and finance institutions can meet to identify advances, drawbacks and comparisons related to the agro-sector,†Ogang said in his underscore of the show.
He said they had prepared to showcase improved technologies related to improved seeds, machinery and animal breeds, with emphasis on meeting standards commensurate to the wider East African market.
The fair will also display different forms of organic farming techniques, fertiliser usage, inorganic methods as well as various ranges of agro-chemicals available for adoption.
Other demonstrations will be based on water harvest management and irrigation technologies that can help farmers mitigate effects of the erratic weather patterns.
Ogang said stalls have been arranged to show a practical experience to value addition which the Government is frantically promoting to improve household incomes and eradicate poverty.
Already exhibitors have been registered in the field of energy, environmental conservation and management, food storage, preservation and medium scale food grading systems, he said.
The chairman Show Board, Charles Byabakama, who is also the Rukungiri LC5 chairman, noted that after emphasising value addition at last year’s fair, the farmers should this year exhibit products that are ready for the market.
He revealed that Israel, Turkey and Brazil will, for the first time, join a host of other countries showcasing a series of agricultural solutions.
Some of the institutions already on ground include the agricultural ministry, National Forestry Authority, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda Prisons, Makerere University, Madhvani Group, British American Tobacco (BATU), Presidential initiative on banana research and development organisation and East African Seed company.
Others are Sigma Knitting, Britannia, Bidco, Green Nile African Seeds, FINCA, Victoria Seeds and many others.
Ogang advised exhibitors who have not yet registered to do so as time is running out.
With thousands of people visiting the show, Jinja resident district commissioner, Katenda Luutu, who also attended the press conference, assured that security would be guaranteed for all property and visitors.
The show managers have set sh2,000 and sh4,000 as entry fees for students and adults respectively.