AGRIKEXPO records rise in number of exhibitors, others

The sixth edition of AGRIKEXPO 2017, which has become one of Africa’s biggest events for agribusiness development and conferences, has continued to rise in profile with a burgeoning number of exhibitors and visitors from all over the continent and the world.

Nigeria is, no doubt, a choice destination for Agribusiness development/investments, given the focus of government on transforming the sector for food security, increased export earnings, job creation and other economic benefits.

Nigeria is the hub of trade in West Africa with the implication that buyers come from nearby countries to procure. In that regard, there is a great need for new investments, partnerships and appropriate technology, including an increase in value chain activities for quick results.

Over the 5editionsconsecutive editions of event, there has continued to be a rise in both exhibitor and visitor participation, with several deals commenced and often closed. The array of stakeholder visitors include farmers, government officers and representatives, channel importers and distributors, agro-allied business owners, c-level executives of food & agro-allied companies, media, researchers & academic, various trade union members, oversea delegations, trade diplomats and general public.

The 2017 edition will hold in Abuja, the administrative capital of Nigeria, close to top decision makers in government and large farm owners. Government remains the largest spender on agricultural equipment and machinery though the private sector is playing a great role. On an annual basis, more than US$10 billion is committed across West Africa in agricultural development, beverage products and services. Usually, visitors come from all over West Africa in quest of new business contacts, suppliers – manufacturers, agents, technical partners, consultants, etc.

AGRIKEXPO is collaborated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Federal Ministry of Trade & Investments (FMTI), Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and several other agencies. Several conferences with theme on agochemicals, machinery, poultry, and process & packaging will hold during the event at the same venue.

It would be a wonderful opportunity for premium agribusiness networking, as many high profile guests in agribusiness have been invited, apart from the trade visitors. Government is excited over AGRIKEXPO as would avail opportunity for agribusiness development as networking happens.

Indeed the 2017 edition of AGRIKEXPO, rightly posited as the 57th Independence Anniversary Edition in recognition and support of governments effort on agricultural transformation.

According to Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Prof. Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria will do better with new technology, tractors, harvesters, processing & packaging machinery, irrigation technology, Inputs, etc, for commercial scale agricultural productivity. Over 2000 tractors are needed for cultivation at various levels.

On an annual basis more than US$10 billion in committed to agriculture/food processing-packaging related businesses and by statistics, growths rates in excess of 7% are expected over the next four to five years. Various conferences ,held in collaboration with different agribusiness trade associations would hold concurrently during the event with high end speakers and attendees drawn from both the private and public sectors.

Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million, is currently the most viable marketplace for agriculture in Africa, by virtue of it’s massive arable land, growing infrastructure, and high demand for agricultural consumables. These qualities attract a wide array of national and international exhibitors and visitors, who eagerly look forward to making business-to-business connections during the three-day exhibition and conferences.