The Sights and Sounds of the National Agriculture and Trade Show
“Let’s Get Growing” was the theme for this year’s National Agriculture and Trade Show held in Belmopan over the weekend. The total figures are not in as yet, but thousands of Belizeans, as well as other visitors, traditionally make their way to the show grounds to join in the trade and experience the best agricultural produce the country has to offer. The rodeo is also a highlight of the two-day event. News Five’s Duane Moody was there and files this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Thousands of persons, including locals and visitors, converged on Belmopan over the weekend for the annual National Agriculture and Trade Show, to take advantage of the great deals, as well as food, entertainment and showcase of local livestock and plants. Whatever’s your poison, there was something there for everyone.
Briah Clarke
Briah Clarke, Belize City Resident
“Every year we normally come dah Agric to just enjoy Agric with my family and everything.”
Duane Moody
“Anything di ketch unu eye so far? Weh unu like? Weh unu woulda want ker home with unu?”
Briah Clarke
“Me, I di wait fi go up more to see wah case of gatorade or something like that.”
Duane Moody
“And would you suggest for other people to come out and enjoy?”
Briah Clarke
“Yes because Agric dah wah very nice thing to do. You could enjoy with your family and friends; yo got ride and everything for the kids dah back. Yo could just enjoy yourself.”
Prudence Sandoval
Prudence Sandoval, Punta Gorda Resident
“I came out with my family so that they can see different animals, meet different people, different fans.”
Duane Moody
“Do you guys do this every year and why?”
Prudence Sandoval
“Every year we do it sir and we encourage other people to come in and enjoy themselves.”
Coming all the way from Punta Gorda with his family was Che’il Mayan Chocolate Proprietor Julio Saqui. Unlike last year, he, his family and his staff are simply enjoying the show and opted not to have a booth with their delicious chocolate products.
Julio Saqui
Julio Saqui, Owner, Che’il Mayan Chocolate
“We were selling chocolates and all these good stuff, but this year it’s all for fun; just plain fun and that’s why we are here today. I want to see the new products. Every year, something new comes in at the showground and I want to see what it is because when you work, you ain’t got time to go around. So I decided well let’s have fun and see what people have to offer. So far I’ve seen lot of good stuff at the booths and I think I may come back tomorrow to pick up some.”
The farmers of the year were also out en masse highlighting their products and the vibrancy of the agricultural industry in Belize. One major producer in the north, American Sugar Refining/Belize Sugar Industry put on display the diversity of products made from our local sugar cane. While an obstacle course drew the attention of various challengers, the booth provided an informative look at the industry and its future development.
William Neal
William Neal, Communications Director, ASR/B.S.I.
“One of the things that we have to consider is that this is about agriculture. It is a great opportunity for people to really come and get information. Perhaps because we are in Orange Walk, if you are from Punta Gorda or some other location, you may not always get the opportunity to see what is happening in the sugar industry. This is a great opportunity for us; it’s more compact information, but it is also distributed in a way that it is more palatable for people to at least wet their appetites and eventually hope that they would want to come and learn more.”
From agriculture to trade…the show grounds had no shortage of great deals for everyone. Agric always has the main phone companies providing various gadgets and electronic devices at rock bottom prices.
Karan Sabnani
Karan Sabnani, Co-owner, Cellular World
“We’ve tried something different this year, whereby we’ve brought out more than just phones. We’ve kinda done like a mini store out here on the show grounds where we have more affordable items. So basically for a hundred dollars, you could buy six electronic items from Cellular World for this Agric. A Bluetooth speaker, an earphone, a cheap phone, case and perhaps you want a small ear buds—all of that under one hundred dollars.”
Kasandra Madrill
Kasandra Madrill, Maya Electronics
“This is our first year at the Agric. Maya Electronics decided to bring out our booth and we are doing it big. We have flat screen TVs from nineteen to thirty-two inches. We also have our Bluetooth audio system; we are raffling one today actually. All you need to do is just place your name and number; there’s no purchase necessary.”
Aside from the main stages, many artists took the opportunity to promote their Belizean albums. Entrepreneurs in their own right, Unlimited and Floyd Dex were on the ground on Saturday and Sunday.
Unlimited, Belizean Artist
“Dah wah wonderful experience; it is an honor to be out here at Agric di meet people and have people support us. For the people weh noh support yet, we have the CDs out; dah fi wah worthy cause. For the people weh done got it; thank you so much for being part of our lives.”
Floyd Dex, Belizean Artist
“Once again, we di introduce the No Fear CD by Floyd X—one and only dancehall and R&B and we have the dancehall and reggae and the DVD of course; dancehall and reggae; nineteen music video on the disk and ti is only twelve dollars.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
