Mpongwe Agricultural Expo
septiembre 04, 2025 - septiembre 06, 2025
The Mpongwe Agricultural Expo: Cultivating Innovation, Connectivity, and Growth in Zambia
In the heart of Zambia’s Copperbelt Province lies Mpongwe District, a fertile and productive region with immense agricultural potential. Each year, this promise is celebrated and propelled forward through the Mpongwe Agricultural Expo—a dynamic event that connects farmers, agribusiness professionals, researchers, and innovators on a single platform dedicated to boosting productivity and sustainability in the region.
Held at the MAFAFA Farm Grounds, the Mpongwe Agricultural Expo has become more than just a local gathering. It has evolved into a nationally recognized initiative for empowering rural farmers, promoting agribusiness solutions, and showcasing cutting-edge technologies in both crop and livestock production.
A Hub for Agricultural Development and Market Access
At its core, the Mpongwe Agricultural Expo is designed to strengthen the entire value chain. By bringing together key players from production, financing, and distribution, the event plays a critical role in increasing access to markets, enhancing productivity, and equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to grow.
This annual expo fosters:
Direct farmer-to-buyer interactions
Exposure to improved seeds, inputs, and equipment
Inspiration from success stories and peer learning
Pathways to financing, insurance, and business support
Through this multi-dimensional approach, the expo enhances not only productivity but also resilience and profitability in the agricultural sector.
Event Highlights: Innovation on Display
The Mpongwe Agricultural Expo is carefully curated to offer both educational and experiential value. Participants can engage in hands-on demonstrations, expert sessions, and vibrant networking—all designed to provide real, applicable benefits to their farming operations.
The top event features include:
Live Demonstration Fields
Witness firsthand how top seed companies and input suppliers grow maize, soybeans, and vegetables using modern methods. These demo plots offer a visual and practical understanding of best practices and performance comparisons among seed varieties and fertilizers.
Livestock Section
An interactive display of cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, and more, guided by veterinary professionals who provide insight into livestock health, breeding programs, and feed management. Farmers can learn about local and exotic breeds while engaging in practical animal care discussions.
Agribusiness Clinics
Meet with financial institutions, insurance providers, and agritech startups ready to offer solutions to small and medium-scale farmers. These clinics create real-time opportunities for farmers to open accounts, explore insurance products, or receive digital agronomic advice.
Irrigation and Smart Farming Tech Zone
Explore water-efficient irrigation systems, solar-powered pumps, and precision agriculture tools such as drones, soil sensors, and mobile apps that optimize planting and harvesting schedules. This space is particularly valuable for forward-thinking farmers interested in climate-smart agriculture.
On-site Camping and Networking
Unique to this expo is the optional on-site camping experience at the MAFAFA grounds, where farmers can stay overnight, share stories, build peer networks, and learn from one another around evening campfires.
Supporting Smallholder Farmers and Rural Youth
One of the Mpongwe Agricultural Expo’s most impactful missions is its commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and engaging rural youth in meaningful agricultural careers. Many exhibitors and partners tailor their offerings to be accessible and relevant for small-scale producers.
Youth and SME-focused activities include:
Agricultural career talks and mentorship programs
Exposure to low-cost, scalable technologies
Business pitching sessions for young agri-entrepreneurs
Access to cooperatives and community-based solutions
Practical training in composting, organic farming, and poultry production
This inclusive strategy ensures that the benefits of the event reach the grassroots level, nurturing a new generation of agricultural leaders.
Partnerships That Drive Sustainable Growth
The Mpongwe Agricultural Expo thrives through strategic partnerships with government ministries, NGOs, donor organizations, private companies, and farmer cooperatives. These collaborations not only bring credibility and scale to the event but also introduce targeted interventions that help local farmers overcome challenges related to climate, financing, and market linkages.
Some key areas of partnership impact include:
Climate-resilient farming education
Promotion of conservation agriculture
Support for women in agribusiness
Implementation of digital extension services
Distribution of certified planting materials
Such initiatives transform the event into a launchpad for rural development, ensuring continuity of support long after the expo ends.
Creating Space for Dialogue and Problem Solving
In addition to the demonstrations and displays, the expo includes structured forums and panel discussions where stakeholders can exchange ideas, identify policy gaps, and address systemic challenges in Zambia’s agriculture sector.
Topics often discussed include:
The future of mechanization in Mpongwe
Land access and tenure systems
Innovations in post-harvest management
The role of cooperatives in input aggregation
Digital transformation and mobile extension
These sessions stimulate deeper engagement between farmers, agribusiness leaders, and policymakers, leading to actionable outcomes and better-aligned interventions.
Mpongwe: An Agricultural District on the Rise
Mpongwe District is increasingly recognized as one of Zambia’s most productive agricultural zones, and the Expo is a reflection of its growing significance. With fertile land, a committed farming population, and increasing investment in infrastructure, Mpongwe is positioning itself as a regional agri-business hub.
By hosting the Expo annually, the district leverages its strategic position to:
Attract agricultural investment
Promote regional trade in food commodities
Support local innovation and employment
Position itself on the national agribusiness map
This momentum creates a positive feedback loop where development attracts opportunity, and opportunity drives further development.
A Movement Rooted in Practical Impact
The Mpongwe Agricultural Expo is more than just an event—it's a movement. A movement toward a smarter, more connected, and empowered farming community. It recognizes that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation but through shared knowledge, collaboration, and continuous learning.
With thousands of meaningful interactions taking place across the event’s fields, tents, clinics, and forums, the Mpongwe Agricultural Expo is a must-attend experience for anyone serious about agriculture in Zambia and beyond.