Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2026 Opens With Green Push And Bigger Exhibitor Line-Up
Brass bands, polished tractors and schoolchildren in neat uniforms flooded the main arena in Harare on Monday as the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2026 opened with a colourful Brands Parade – and a clear message that the country wants its farm sector to grow greener and bigger.
The 116th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, running under the #ZAS2026 banner, has drawn more than 640 exhibitors, up from 630 last year, according to the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS). Organisers and exhibitors say the increased presence of local, regional and international companies points to renewed business interest in Zimbabwe’s premier agricultural showcase.
At the heart of opening day was the Green Indaba at the Andy Millar Hall – a packed forum inside the ZAS Business Hub where policy-makers, private companies, researchers and farmers traded ideas on how to build a climate-resilient, low-carbon agricultural economy.
Green Indaba Puts Climate Resilience At Centre Stage
The Green Indaba set the tone for a show that wants to be more than a display of shiny machinery. Panel discussions circled around drought-tolerant seed varieties, water-efficient irrigation, renewable energy on farms, and how to align farm investments with climate targets.
FFA Explainer:
The Green Indaba is a conference-style forum held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show. It brings together farmers, businesses, researchers, financiers and government officials to debate policies and practical solutions for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture – from inputs and technology to markets and finance.
KOPIA Projects Coordinator, Ms Yemurai Precious Magaya, said the timing of this year’s edition could not be better as Zimbabwe works to shield its food systems from climate shocks.
“This 116th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show comes at the right time when as a nation, we are looking to sustained agriculture development driven by the need to adapt to climate-resilient policies,” she said.
Her remarks echo broader national efforts under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which recognises agriculture as a key driver of growth, exports and rural employment – but also one of the sectors most exposed to climate change.
For many smallholders in regions like Marondera, Gokwe and Mwenezi, the question is simple: will the high-level conversations at the Green Indaba translate into affordable seed, irrigation and markets at village level?
Exhibitors Grow In Number – And Confidence
With more than 640 exhibitors on the grounds this year, the show is inching back towards the bustle many remember from its peak years. Tents for seed houses, farm equipment suppliers, irrigation companies, financial institutions and agro-dealers sprawl across the Harare Showgrounds, alongside government ministries and NGOs.
Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rufaro Gunundu, said the growth in regional and foreign participation reflects shifting perceptions about doing business in the country.
“What is impressive is the fact that there has been a huge growth in terms of the regional and foreign exhibitors, a factor which dovetails with the Government’s engagement and reengagement agenda,” Mr Gunundu said.
He said the Green Indaba, which opened the show, added a strong policy and investment dimension to what has traditionally been seen as a commercial and entertainment event.
“This all serves to show that policies being put in place to develop agriculture are bearing fruit,” he added.
For government, that message matters. A busy showground supports the narrative of an agricultural sector that is beginning to attract regional interest again, after years of subdued participation.
From Marondera To Harare: What Smallholders Want From ZAS
Beyond the big banners and choreographed parades, the show’s real test lies in what farmers take back home – especially smallholders who still produce much of Zimbabwe’s food.
Chief Nenguwo of Marondera District, Mr Denford Shonhayi, who is also exhibiting, said he was looking for concrete business leads and information he could share with his community.
“As an exhibitor I hope that this platform continues to yield its intended goals of networking. I am expecting a lot in terms of doing business here and sharing the relevant information with the right people,” he said.
His expectations mirror those of many A1 and communal farmers who make the trip from districts such as Marondera, Mazowe, Chiredzi and Lupane. They want practical guidance on how to improve yields, access inputs, and secure markets for maize, soya beans, sorghum, horticulture and livestock.
In recent years, farmers from Mashonaland East have used the show to compare new irrigation kits, learn about climate-smart cropping systems, and meet off-takers who can buy their produce. That is where the event intersects directly with Zimbabwe’s food security ambitions and with broader goals under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Why This Show Matters For Zimbabwe’s Growth Plans
Agriculture remains central to Zimbabwe’s economic vision. It underpins agro-processing, export earnings, employment and rural livelihoods. Policymakers see platforms like the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show as important spaces to test policy ideas, court investors and showcase success stories in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, irrigation development and livestock improvement.
The show’s business conferences, including the Green Indaba, provide rare occasions where a communal farmer, a provincial agronomist, a bank executive and a fertiliser manufacturer might share the same room. Deals for contract farming, equipment supply, and research partnerships often start with a simple conversation in these corridors.
FFA Explainer:
Climate-resilient or climate-smart agriculture refers to farming methods that increase productivity, strengthen farmers’ ability to withstand droughts, floods and heat, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include drought-tolerant seeds, conservation agriculture, efficient irrigation and integrating trees or livestock into cropping systems.
The Green Indaba’s focus on sustainable solutions aligns with regional trends. Governments and development partners across Southern Africa are pushing for investments in solar-powered irrigation, digital advisory tools, and insurance products that can help farmers recover faster after climate shocks.
For a young farmer from Chihota or Goromonzi, a walk through the ZAS Business Hub can mean discovering a micro-irrigation kit that works with a small solar pump, or learning from another farmer who has successfully rotated maize with sugar beans to protect soils and spread risk.
Regional Spotlight And Diplomatic Signal
This year’s edition has a strong regional flavour, underlined by the expected appearance of Namibian President Nandi Ndaitwa, who is scheduled to officially open the show. Her presence will underscore the growing links between Southern African countries around food security, trade and climate resilience.
Zimbabwe sees agriculture as central to its re-engagement efforts – a sector where shared challenges like drought, input shortages and volatile markets can become entry points for deeper cooperation. Regional exhibitors at ZAS2026 are displaying technologies and products that could easily cross borders, from conservation agriculture equipment to animal health products.
Institutions such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Union have consistently linked agricultural development to their long-term visions, and the growing foreign presence at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show reflects this wider regional agenda.
Entertainment, Youth And The Business Of Farming
Even with a strong policy and business thrust, the show retains its traditional mix of arts, sports, education and entertainment. Livestock judging rings, schools’ exhibitions, music shows and sports fixtures run alongside the business conferences and official tours.
Mr Gunundu said a range of entertainment, business and economic events were lined up during the week to attract families, students and professionals, while keeping agriculture at the core of the programme.
These elements are not cosmetic. They are part of how the show tries to capture the imagination of young Zimbabweans and persuade them that agriculture is not a dead end, but a viable career and business. Youth groups, agri-tech start-ups and vocational colleges use their stands to pitch ideas – from mobile apps linking farmers to markets, to small-scale poultry value addition and vegetable drying enterprises.
For many schoolchildren from Harare’s high-density suburbs or rural districts, their first close-up view of a dairy parlour, a combine harvester or a weather station happens at the agricultural show. That exposure matters for a country where the next generation will need to farm differently from their parents to cope with a changing climate.
Turning Showground Ideas Into Field Results
The challenge, as always, is to bridge the gap between the deals and declarations made in Harare and the realities on farms from Tsholotsho to Chipinge.
Farmers in districts like Marondera say they want to see more follow-through after the show: extension officers revisiting their wards with material collected at ZAS, banks that were generous with pamphlets at their stands actually processing smallholder-friendly loans, and input suppliers honouring the prices they advertised on the grounds.
For policymakers, the test will be whether the climate-resilient policies discussed at the Green Indaba show up in next season’s input support programmes, irrigation investments and training curricula – especially for women and youth who often have less access to land, finance and extension.
Still, as the sun set on the first day of ZAS2026 and the last drumbeats of the Brands Parade faded, there was a sense of purpose in the dust of the showgrounds. Exhibitors had begun their pitches. Farmers had started their rounds of questions. Officials had made their speeches.
What happens over the next week – and in the next farming season – will determine whether this year’s bigger, greener Zimbabwe Agricultural Show becomes a turning point, or just another date on the calendar.
For now, the gates are open, and the country’s ambitions for a more resilient, productive farm sector are on full display.
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