Horse racing included in National Agricultural Show fanfare

VICTOR MUYAKWABO
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 29, 2012 00:00

The show spokesperson Geoffrey Pheko said although in the past 20 years there was no horse racing, they decided to introduce it to add flair to the event. 

He said changing the venue of the show from the old fairgrounds to the new one in Sebele made it possible to include the races. 'In the past years, we did not have enough space to host the horse racing events,' said Pheko.He also said the private sector and banks have started showing confidence in the agricultural sector, considering the number of sponsors that are associated with the show this year.

'This time the public will come and view solely agricultural products unlike at the consumer fair, where our display was a smaller segment of the whole event,' said Pheko. According to Pheko, farmers have also shown commendable interest in the show by registering to be part of the activities. He said in the past, there were fewer exhibitors from the northern part of Botswana but this year some of the winners in the cattle industry are from there.

'The other significant difference is that in the past winners in the crop production were not given medals, but this year we are giving them,' said Pheko. However, the show which has brought together different businesses in the agricultural sector has so far experienced a low turn out, compared to the previous years.