Exhibitors, others underscore last National Agric Show.

The last National Agricultural Show has witnessed a low turnout with poor assessment by the few participants and other stakeholders who expressed frustrations attendance and scanty activities as compared to the previous editions held at the same venue of Tudun Wada village, along Abuja-Keffi expressway in Nasarawa State.

Some of the exhibitors who spoke with our reporter expressed disappointment at the way and manner people were allowed into the venue with conspicuous over bearing of those who are providing ancillary services and traders that displayed all kinds of wares that have no relevance to the purpose of the show.

Only about seven states namely Kano, Nazarawa, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa are seen very active with their agricultural produce well displayed while many other states could not come due to unreleased of fund according to a source who preferred anonymity but rated the show outing very poor saying private section must start to be seen in the light of being at the driver’s seat of the nation’s economy.
Another source told us that the usual financial support the organizer of the show normally receive from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) for the purpose of the event did not come as there were scanty appearance of government officials especially from Abuja as few that come from far were very unhappy because they could not get their expectation as  few stands of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) State Chapters, research institutes, processors, agricultural machinery and equipment fabricators and other exhibitors were equally seen.

On the first and second days of the show, some of the exhibitors were still very busy battling to erect their pavilions and stands when activities had already commenced. On the second to the last day of the event, some of the exhibitors hurriedly parked their bags and baggages to avoid unnecessary expenses as the show fell below their expectation.

Giving reasons for the low turn-out, the Secretary to the Board of Trustees, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN); the organizer of the show, Dr. Samuel Negedu attributed it to people’ apprehension occasioned by security challenges in the country adding that lack of funds among other factors also slowed down activities of this 8th edition of the show and therefore urged all stakeholders to support the foundation to ensure robust continuity of the annual event. 

   
                                    
In spite of the reasons given by the foundation secretary, analysts still believe there is a political dimension to the poor outing as one Mr. Bulus Adamu, told Food-Farm News that he wondered why the minister of agriculture was not present or anybody from the ministry saying “Could you imagine this kind of event happening at a time when the agriculture minister wants the sector to be seen as a business, and he did not attend the opening ceremony neither does he send a representative. What do you think is happening? No reason was given for that. I think it’s all about politics.” When reminded that some officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attended the agricultural show seminar which heralded the show proper, Mr. Adamu said, “that was not enough, they are supposed to identify with the show all through.”

Although our check on the ministry confirmed that the minister was not in the country at the time of the event just as his absence was vividly noticed at the World Food Day celebration held at the parade ground of area 10, Garki, Abuja.

Speaking on the development, the AFAN President, Architect Kabiru Ibrahim, maintained that there was nothing to worry about. He said they want the agricultural show to be private sector driven as it is obtains in other parts of the world. He cited the Royal Agriculture Show in the UK saying that “The show is okay. There is no need depending on government for agric shows. We want this show to be private sector driven to ensure its survival in the future” .