350 exhibitors to grace Nairobi International Trade Fair
Thousands of visitors are expected to grace the 2023 Nairobi International Trade Fair.
Speaking exclusively to Nairobi News on September 19, 2023, organizers said the agricultural and business forum has attracted over 350 exhibitors, both local and international.
The show is scheduled to run from September 25 to October 1, 2023, with this year’s theme being “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth”.
It will take place at the Jamhuri ASK Grounds in Nairobi.
“Everything is ready for the inaugural agricultural expo,” says Mr Joseph Mugo, the ASK Nairobi Branch Chair.
The event aims to bring together all industry players in the agricultural and trade sector, including manufacturing, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while providing platforms for innovative solutions, modern technologies aimed at spurring agriculture, financial and advertising services, as well as live demonstrations.
The show will also offer a forum for farmers to ask questions to agricultural experts, enabling the sharing of information, marketing, and networking with players in the agriculture and business sectors.
In addition, the seven-day exhibition will provide free farmer training, workshops, and livestock parades.
“Since smart agricultural practices offer undeniable advantages for businesses over conventional methods, it is worth exploring the features of this approach in more depth during the show,” says Mr Batram Muthoka, the Agriculture Society of Kenya CEO.
As the new theme revolves around climate-smart agriculture, Betty Rotich, the Nairobi ASK Branch Manager, says they have engaged many stakeholders with climate-smart agriculture solutions.
These stakeholders include those showcasing water harvesting, conservation and irrigation systems, green energy technologies, gas emissions, and solar.
“We are making deliberate efforts to bring on board stakeholders in climate-smart agriculture to help spearhead the debate on mitigating the devastating effects of climate change.”
Kenya, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is among the countries hard-hit by climate change in the Horn of Africa.
Hence, there is a need to campaign for the adoption of modern technologies and innovations to combat the menace, such as drought and even floods.
This initiative includes adopting drought-tolerant crops, which will be showcased during the Nairobi 2023 ASK.
The showground has offered over 2, 000 exhibition spaces as the annual agricultural and business conference gains momentum following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Potential young farmers will also be accommodated through the 4K Club schools’ programs.
The Kuungana, Kufanya Kusaidia Kenya (4K) Clubs initiative in schools was revived in 2021 by the now-retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Its goals and objectives are to nurture children in the agricultural and livestock sector.
The nation’s ASK Patron, President William Ruto, will officially open the event.
Entry fees are set at Sh300 for adults, Sh250 for children, and for groups, an adult will pay Sh250 and a child Sh200.
ASK members with a valid membership badge can use it for show access.
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