During the just concluded two-day Agitech Expo 2024 held in Mutithi Mwea, Kirinyaga County, it dawned on me that exhibitions are just as good as the people running them. Speaking in his Keynote speech, the expo Patron Dr. Peter Karanja said, “A lot of man hours were put in innovating, planning, executing and critiquing to ensure everything went as expected.”
Adding, “People were meeting daily, throwing all spanners at work to ensure every nut is well fitted and tightly done”.
Speaking in the same forum, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Dr. Andrew Karanja said the government had a lot to learn from Agitech exhibition organisers and the private sector at large. Comparing Agitech with the ASK shows, he said, “it is the high time we work with the experts and also learn from them. Most of the other speakers who included permanent secretaries, parastatal chairmen and industry players praised the organisation.
Met Expectation
The visitors enjoyed exciting exhibits at Every Booth, Unveiling the Future Today which was a discovery of Innovation and Excellence. On the demo plots, they experienced innovation in action as they explored the cutting edge demo plots showcasing the future of farming. On the side event, visitors met influential experts unlocking smart technologies to enhance agricultural value chains from seed to market. The tens of thousands who visited the exhibition went back with a positive mind gearing to come back.
Exhibitors
Elaborate designs of stands were on display, branding was at its peak, and a kaleidoscope of colours was evident. Inside the stalls it was easy to tell a lot of time, energy and money had been invested in just getting it right. Unlike in other exhibitions, cases of sales people manning the stands spending time texting friends on their phones or huddling in a corner chatting while prospective customers pass by was rarely witnessed.
As witnessed, Agitech 2024 offered a perfect opportunity for exhibitors to interact with clients in an informal setting (as opposed to an office set up) when they are more relaxed. It was a perfect opportunity for companies to come to the customer; to let the customer know of their existence (if they didn’t already know) or see them in a different, more positive light (if they already know them). The notable agrichemical giants who graced the event included Yara, OCP Africa, Osho chemicals, Greenlife, Bayer, Syngenta, Corteva, Amiran, Elgon, BASF among others.
Conclusion
This year’s theme was ‘The Use of Smart Technologies in Scaling up Agricultural Value Chains from Seed to Market,’ aimed at equipping farmers with adopting technology through the entire value chain. Most of those interviewed by Floriweek were all praise as they promised to come back in 2025. Kirinyaga being an agricultural county, Agitech 2024 aimed to increase the profitability of the farmer, through knowledge and high-quality products and to develop sustainable business models.
Building on this success, Agitech Grand Expo 2025 which will be held on the 9th to 11th October is a continuation of their commitment to promoting agricultural advancements and fostering partnerships within the industry.
