Whereas the last Kenyan Agri-Business Fair in August had attracted an impressive number of 16,000 farmers, this time all records were broken with 22,789 people attending! Though this Fair can be written down as the most successful one ever, the overwhelming number of visitors presented the organisation with a challenge.

The Agri-Business Trade Fair was held in Karatina Stadium on 18th October, 2012. The organisers, Kenya Livestock Producers Association (KLPA) and Agri-ProFocus, had mobilised farmers in a month-long campaign – yet, the number of 22,789 visitors came as a big surprise. The attendance is even more impressive given that the event was not advertised in the mainstream media, namely TV, radio or newspapers, but rather capitalised on a grassroots mobilisation approach.

Hungry for information
There is no doubt that farmers are hungry for information. Farmers started streaming in at 8am, catching many exhibitors unprepared. The large numbers made it difficult to access popular stands and many participants had to make repeated visits to get a minute’s hearing.

Early morning traffic was dominated by women, who comprised of 79% of participants. This emphasises the important role played by women in agriculture in the area. It was also noticed that most farmers were elderly – ranging from the mid-40s to the 60s – demonstrating the impending crisis Kenya faces. It is evident that youth have little interest in agriculture and more needs to be done to attract them.

Exhibitors
The event was attended by financial institutions, insurance institutions, input suppliers, traders, SACCOs, micro-finance organisations, service providers, green energy companies, development organisations and government departments involved in agri-business. Though 98 exhibitors were expected, at the end of the day there were 154! The result was that some tents had as many as four exhibitors. Some farmers and traders, sensing a windfall, gate-crashed the Fair, selling everything from climbing bean seeds, hamsters and rabbits to refreshments.

Activities during the event included:

• The Market Place: Here, financial and service providers as well as input and technology suppliers showcased their products, exchanged contacts and sealed deals. Deals conducted included opening of bank accounts, with one bank opening more than 400 accounts; shares being sold by SACCOs; and the sale of inputs such as seeds, feeds, agro-chemicals and technologies. Most of the exhibitors reported roaring business.
• An Open Forum: Exhibitors had the opportunity to promote their services and products before a larger audience. Unlike previous Fairs, this was combined with a raffle to maintain the farmers’ interest. The MC kept the farmers hooked as he combined short company promotion sessions with fun and excitement. The Forum rolled over into the award and closing ceremony, which was witnessed by approximately 2000 people.
• Mini-Forums: These were run by exhibitors and allowed them to provide short training sessions, share information and interact with farmers. Farmers had the opportunity to ask questions as well as share their own experiences.
• Farmers’ Clinics: The clinics enabled farmers ask specific questions and seek solutions to problems and challenges that they had with products and production.
• Project Fair Excursion: Arrangements were made with the Horticulture and Food Security Project (being implemented by Solidaridad, Hivos and SNV) that saw 146 farmers from 6 groups in Meru, Timau, Kirinyaga and Naromoru visit the event. In addition to visiting different stands and holding discussions with different organisations, special consultation forums were organised with financial providers such as KCB, Cooperative Bank and ICEA Lion. Cooperative Bank will follow up with interested groups, conduct due diligence and extend loans at 11% if satisfied.
• An Agri-ProFocus Award scheme that recognised innovative financial services, products and the best stands. Farmers voted for the winners using forms developed for the purpose. For the first time, also runner-up trophies were included in the Fair.

Challenges for future Fairs
As Agri-Hub assistant Mike Muchilwa reports, there is ‘enormous pressure from farmers and exhibitors to organise a two day-event’. However, this would double overheads, impacting on the future sustainability of the event. Though the high number of participants has made this Fair the most successful one-day Agri-Business Trade Fair in Kenya ever, it provides both opportunities and challenges. Participants and exhibitors overwhelmed the arrangements that were in place in Karatina. Therefore, Agri-ProFocus and KLPA will focus on strengthening the ground team capacity in future Fairs, to be organised in 2013.