By Herbert Musoke
All roads will lead to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in just a few days for the biggest annual agricultural expo.
At the core of the big event, are exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
In a show of enthusiasm and commitment, hundreds of exhibitors flocked to the stadium yesterday for a crucial briefing, eager to maximise their participation in the upcoming expo.
Recognising the pivotal role exhibitors play in the event’s success, Vision Group, the organisers, seized the opportunity to outline their expectations and provide guidance on how to make the most of the exhibition, scheduled to take place from February 14-16.
The deputy managing director Vision Group, Gervase Ndyanabo, thanked the exhibitors for partnering with the company in organising the most influential farming expo in Uganda.
“We started it as a follow-up to our editorials and Best Farmers Competition, which called for taking agriculture to the next level. As the biggest media company, we at Vision Group want to ensure that we are an integral part of the agricultural sector, which impacts the majority of Ugandans,” Ndyanabo said.
He added that the theme of the expo this year is Agriculture as a Business and the sub-theme is Value addition and Cooperatives.
“Every year, the expo gets better than the previous one because of the feedback we get from you as exhibitors, but also from your clients which helps us as the organisers to improve and serve you better,” Ndyanabo said.
He urged the public to attend the expo in large numbers.
He emphasised that the public would gain a lot from the event, including learning about new trends that would transform their farming practices and accessing a wide range of agriculture-related goods and services in one place.
Additionally, Ndyanabo said Vision Group had incorporated feedback from previous editions, ensuring that this year’s event would be the best one.
Hope Nuwagaba, the head of sales at Vision Group, lauded the exhibitors for believing in the cause and participating in the expo over the years.
“We thank you so much because you have trusted us with your money. We are back home [Namboole] and we pray for God’s provision and good health that we can have a productive three days of the expo,” she said.
The Harvest Money Expo was first held in 2017 at Namboole.
Nuwagaba said only a limited number of exhibitor stalls were still available and that there was also an opportunity for various entities to come on board as sponsors.
Wide publicity
Lorraine Tukahirwa, the head of marketing and communication, said Vision Group has deployed all its platforms including newspapers, radio, TV and digital media, to promote the expo and drive audiences to it.
She said the excitement among the public is palpable and portends a high turnout.
“We’re letting people know what’s on offer during the expo. Be rest assured that we’ve prepared well and come Friday, February 14, when the gates open to the public, it will be a flood of showgoers,” she said.
Tukahirwa added that while Vision Group is driving attendance, the onus will be on exhibitors to deliver a memorable experience during the expo.
To keep their companies top of mind, she urged exhibitors to ensure that visitors to their stalls have an engaging and informative experience.
She also urged exhibitors to encourage visitors to their stalls to continue patronising their services or buying their goods long after the expo.
Additionally, she emphasised that the expo offers a huge opportunity for networking and encouraged them to make the most of it.
Jackline Taweeka, the business development manager, urged exhibitors to take advantage of Vision Group platforms even beyond the expo in order to continue engaging with the public and specifically their clients.
She added that Vision Group produces agriculture-related content on all its platforms and conducts agriculture master classes countrywide, which allow sponsors and exhibitors to get closer to their clients.
Security
Assistant Superintendent of Police Henry Mwine, Vision Group’s security manager, assured exhibitors of security, but urged them to be vigilant and take personal responsibility for their own security and that of their property.
Fiona Tamale, the Vision Group events manager, implored exhibitors to maintain personal hygiene and treat each other with respect.
To keep the environment conducive, Tamale advised participants to be environmentally responsible and refrain from littering, emphasising that this was crucial even at an agricultural expo.
The Harvest Money Expo draws exhibitors from diverse enterprises, including livestock farming, crop husbandry, agricultural inputs (such as seeds, fertilisers and pesticides), farm machinery, irrigation, agri-financing, extension services, non-governmental organisations and research institutions.
This year’s sponsors include the Netherlands Embassy, ENGSOL, Bella Wine, Tunga Nutrition, aBi Development, Uganda Development Co-operation and Pepsi.
What exhibitors say
Denis Matovu, Nutrinova: I thank Vision Group for the expo which brings different stakeholders together in one place for agriculture transformation.
Jolly Busingye, Itungo Pastures: The three days are very few. We wish the expo would be for a week, because there is a lot to share with clients.
Davis Ojok, Fromyfarm app: The expo has boosted our business. When we first participated in the expo last year, we registered about 1,000 individuals. As I speak, we have over 11,000 on our platform.
