The Chegutu Agricultural Show has been revived after a 15-year hiatus.
The show was held over the weekend at Pfupajena Stadium, with over 10 exhibitors including major corporates and parastatals, joining farmers.
Its revival has helped local farmers who are eager to market their produce and interact with others.
Mrs Tsamwai Charuma, a rabbit farmer from the area, said the revival of the show was long overdue.
"We are happy that the show has been revived and we are also hopeful that more people including farmers and companies will participate next year.
"I am a rabbit farmer and it is through these events that our products and efforts are noticed," she said.
Another farmer who participated, Ms Coletta Nhamo said halting the show had affected most farmers in the area as they could not participate in other district shows.
Chegutu is Mashonaland West's third most productive producing district, with communal and commercial farmers in the area contributing immensely to wheat, maize, beef and pig production.
A Chegutu-based youthful drug and substance abuse fighter, Liberty Mavhunga said the event had given him and other fighters, a space to preach against drugs.
"We are grateful that the show has been revived. This is where most children converge and interact. We are taking advantage of the even to preach the gospel of anti-drugs and substance abuse while at the same time exposing the children to farming activities that are on display," he said.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The district, just like the rest of the world, is battling drugs and substance abuse with the scourge now rife in rural parts.
Chegutu Agricultural Show Society chairman, Mr Kudakwashe Mutongerwa said challenges had befallen the previous committee, which led to the suspension of the annual event.
"As a district, we have a lot of farmers who contribute to the national grain reserves and through other means of production. We saw it fit to revive this event as a way of honouring our farmers while at the same time bringing liveliness in the town.
"We are however, pleading with the two councils we have, Chegutu Rural District Council and Chegutu Municipality, to avail land so that we will be able to host the event at a free and conducive environment. As the first event after suspension, we decided to host it here Pfupajena Stadium but that shouldn't be the case in the next years to come," said Mr Mutongerwa.
The two councils promised to look into the show society's request.
The event ran under the theme: "Fostering resilience. Agricultural value chains to drive agro-industrialisation."
