Kalabo Hails Rising Farmer Turnout at 98th Show

A rise in the number of farmers bringing their produce to the Agricultural and Commercial Show has been welcomed by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Oliver Kalabo, who toured the grounds as the 98th edition of the event got under way.

Dr Kalabo said the scale of participation this year reflected well on the sector, and singled out the strength of the youth turnout for particular praise. The number of young exhibitors on display, he said, pointed to a generation increasingly willing to see farming as a livelihood.

His comments came after a walkabout of the Young Farmers' Hall, where he inspected a range of stands put up by younger producers. Speaking afterwards, he suggested the event has outgrown the room currently available to it and called for exhibitors to be given more space in which to display what they have grown.

Work to address that is already under way, according to Agricultural and Commercial Show President Rene Lourens. He said the Society is running an extension programme intended to widen the capacity available to those taking part, allowing a greater number of farmers to secure a place at future editions of the show.

Mr Lourens added that additional room has already been set aside within the livestock section for farmers wishing to bring their products before the public.