By Martha Taumata Faavae
Organisers of the Agriculture Show 2020 are clinging to the hopes the coronavirus pandemic will clear up enough for the showcase event to go ahead.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is about 3 months away from hosting the annual event that is more than a display of farm produce to make the farmers happy.
The Minister of Agriculture, Lopao’o Natanielu Mua, firmly believes it helps to inspire all community sectors right across the country.
A $500,000 tala budget is included in the national estimates for the new financial year to fund the show.
“The Agriculture Show is an opportunity for the farming communities in Upolu and Savaii to proudly display the fruits of their year long toil,” Lopao’o praised.
“It is a morale booster as well for them at being made to feel appreciated for their contribution to the economy of Samoa.”
The Minister hopes the general public attracted to the show is encouraged to work the land after being impressed by what the farmers are able to reap from farming.
“There are choices of farming they may wish to take up like vegetable gardening, livestock or others.”
The young generation going through education is a targetted group the Minister dearly hopes the Agriculture Show will push their interest into farming.
“ Hopefully it will get them interested in a course of study that will turn them into future farmers for Samoa.”
Farmers who stand out at the show are normally rewarded with winning prizes to climax the glowing praises and admiration from an appreciative public.
All the other farmers who missed out on prizes will still have monetary gifts from the organisers to help cover transportation of produce to the show and other added costs.
Unfortunately, all the good intentions depend on whether the threat of the coronavirus pandemic will not be a risk when the show is staged in October.
“For now we are still uncertain whether it is possible to go ahead with registration of farmers for the show set for August.
“Inspection of farms by teams from the Ministry for every entrant normally follows after the registrations are done.”
More than 100 farmers usually register to be part of the show. As far as Lopao’o is concerned all now hangs on the state of the coronavirus threat in the upcoming weeks.
The Minister remains cautious that the coronavirus pandemic is still spreading even if New Zealand and other close neighbouring islands are free of the virus.