The theme for last weekend’s Agri-Investment Forum and Expo held in Port of Spain at the Queen’s Park Savannah – “transforming agriculture through innovation and investment,” was not lost on exhibitors, as many displayed new innovations and technology that caught the eye of a wide range of people – from the small home gardener to the large scale produce farmer, to even Caricom leaders.

Large companies like FT Farfan and Massy Machinery, and smaller ones, such as solar and hydroponic farming service provider, Ariaponics, told Business Day the event provided opportunities to educate and network with thousands of interested people.

Alex Jones, manager of Ariaponics, a family-owned agriculture business specialising in solar-powered greenhouses and hydroponics, was blown away by the level of exposure that the company was able to get from the expo.

“We had our Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the President of Guyana and other dignitaries at our greenhouse,” he said. “There were also tens of thousands of participants and visitors that came from TT and other countries who showed interest in our services.

“We were always talking about hydroponics and greenhouses with people coming in. It was never a dull moment.”

Dillon Abraham, construction and agricultural equipment brand manager at Massy Machinery said although their brands were established in the farming community because of its tractors, they were able to show people who did not know it was involved in farming equipment and machinery.

[caption id="attachment_971453" align="alignnone" width="1024"] FT Farfan CEO Andrew Crooks looks at machines and equipment outside the FT Farfan booth along with Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo last weekend. - Courtesy FT Farfan[/caption]

“There was a large cross-section of people who really had no clue Massy itself was involved in the machinery business,” Abraham said. “Obviously our Caterpillar brand is well-known, but not so much our agricultural department.”

“In terms of really growing the awareness to new customers, I thought the reception was really good.”

Abraham said it was a great opportunity for all companies involved to raise awareness about the products and services available to farmers and gardeners.

One product from the FT Farfan product line also piqued the interest of Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali. CEO Andrew Crooks said the President was eyeing the company’s Kubota tractors, well known in Japan for its capabilities in rice farming.

“The President just asked if they were in Guyana yet, meaning that if we represented them in Guyana, and I told them not yet,” Crooks said.

FT Farfan’s two booths, the machinery and mechanical booth and another booth, Agri World, which supplies fertilisers, pesticides and other plant health products, also benefited from the exposure of the crowds at the expo.

“Apart from reaching farmers, there were thousands of home gardeners who grew small vegetable crops, ornamen