1st ZAVSAP Processed Products Fair: a huge success

The ZAVSAP Processed Products Fair, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, was an extraordinary success. Held at the Harare show grounds on Wednesday 14th of July 2010, over 700 people visited over ten stands held by members of the ZAVSAP network where processed foods, organic products, herbs and many more items were on display and for sale.

The Assistant Director of the United Nations agency FAO, Mr David Mfote, opened the fair with a speech highlighting the importance for Zimbabwe of small scale farming, and the challenge of adding value to their produce, creating a bigger diversity of products and going back to some of the traditional crops like sorghum, millet, nyemba etc that have proven more sustainable.

Videos in various corners demonstrated members of the network in action, mbira star Adam Chisvo was playing live in the background and a modest lunch was served for those who hadn’t filled up on the tasting sessions. Several organisations such as FAO, Action Aid, Agritex, SCC, Africare, USAID, business enterprises such as ATA, ZimTrade, Nestle, Farm & City, Delta Corporation, representatives of relevant Ministries (Health, SME, Gender and Women Affairs), and the press attended the event which had been announced in all local papers and through the internet.

Reactions from the public included:

“I enjoyed every bit of it. A wonderful and exciting event, well organised. Please keep up the good. If it’s nice, do it twice!”

“This is a noble idea. Can this be spread to other provinces too?”

“This fair provided the visitors and the exhibitors with a lot of new opportunities. The sharing of knowledge is impressive.”

“I had no idea that we had all these nice foods and products in our country!”

“It’s a shame that supermarkets don’t sell what you find here!”

ZAVSAP is a network of 9 Zimbabwean NGOs, established in 2008. Its main purpose is to provide training in value addition and marketing of agricultural produce. The ZAVSAP Network held its first Processed Products Fair to exhibit the products that the small holder farmers have been taught to make over the past 2 years.