Taking into account the depressed state of the economy, the 2005 edition of the Harare Agricultural Show lived up to its theme and the hype in the mainstream media that preceded the event. The theme of the show this year was “It’s all alive in two-0-0-5” and Harare really came alive as all roads led to the Harare Exhibition Park, the traditional venue for the show. Show period covered August 22 to 27, 2005.

SIRDC took advantage of the marketing and business opportunity presented by the Agricultural Show and showcased its products and services. The following products and technologies were featured at the SIRDC stand:

• SIRTILES (formally marketed as MCR Tiles)
• Foundry castings
• SIRDAMECTIN (animal antibiotic)
• Rammed earth technology
• Mushroom spawn (seed) and fruit
• Solar dryer for drying fruit and vegetables in a hygienic way
• Gravity grinding mill
• SLATE - Electronic demonstration boards used in the teaching of Physics and
• Electronics to illustrate certain concepts perceived to be difficult, e.g. rectification, logic gates and the Schmitt trigger concept

Also on offer at the stand were SIRDC institute services and training courses such as:

• Metrology calibration services
• Entrereneurial skills development courses
• Food and nutrition issues.

SIRTECH Investments, a joint venture company of SIRDC and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, was introduced the show under the umbrella of SIRDC. The official launch of SIRTECH is planned for mid next month (October) in a lavish ceremony to be attended by government ministers and other key stakeholders in the finance and industrial sector.

On a related note, a week after the Agricultural Show, SIRDC and SIRTECH once again participated at a building materials exhibition organized by Select Property at the popular Westgate Mall on 2 and 3 September 2005. In line with the theme and focus of this exhibition, SIRDC displayed its rammed earth technology as well as the SIRTECH roofing tiles, SIRTILES.