Agrofest 2024 is expected to be the most bountiful yet.
That assurance has come from president of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), Henderson Williams, who expects next year’s attendance at the agricultural fair to surpass the 64 000 people who patronised it this year.
Delivering the welcome remarks at a press conference at the Radisson Aquatica Hotel yesterday morning to launch the event, Williams said Agrofest, which is now in its 17th year, would be held at Queen’s Park from February 23-25.
He said tickets would go on sale from December 1, as he encouraged people to also purchase tickets as Christmas gifts.
Speaking to sponsors, farmers and the heads of BAS affiliated commodity groups which included sheep and goats, dairy and beef, vegetables and fruits and members of the Apiary Association or beekeepers, Williams said staging the annual event was no easy feat.
He said that under the theme Securing Our Roots Through Agriculture, next year’s focus is on food security.
The BAS president also outlined some of the challenges currently facing the industry, some of which will be highlighted at Agrofest 2024.
“We will be dealing with the matter of climate change, commodity pricing, feed pricing, the cost of the grain on the market, bio security, livestock security, genetic improvement, praedial larceny, the quality of the product and export readiness.”
He said the BAS was expecting an increase in vendors and more activities for children, “because they are the future of the industry”.
