Nampo’s 53rd edition: Reaping rewards in the agricultural sector

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Grain SA’s annual Nampo Harvest Day agricultural show, will be held on the 14 to 17 May at Nampo Park near Bothaville, following  a record attendance of almost 83 000 visitors last year.

‘NAMPO is our exhibition platform where producers come into contact with the latest technology. The Harvest Day is a wonderful place for father and son to dream together about beautiful cattle or a vehicle, with something to see for everyone in the family,’ said Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA.

Nampo Harvest Day is an annually organized trade fair held for supplementing the farmers in the region with a complete perspective into the latest farming products and equipments. With similar aim this event was incepted way back in 1967 and it has since then been capable of serving the requirements of both the users as well as the suppliers and manufactures of such equipments.. Practical demonstrations of usable machinery are one of the most important highlights of this event.

According to Danie Minnaar, chairperson of the Harvest Day committee, NAMPO is a top-class show boasting 775 exhibitors, 50 of whom are international exhibitors, this year. Organised groups of exhibitors from the USA, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Canada, Argentina and Italy, as well as individual exhibitors from Denmark, China and Turkey, are present. ‘The fact that we can accommodate 60 new exhibitors shows that the Harvest Day is a dynamic show that is still growing and remains in line with the most recent developments in agriculture,’ Danie added.

One of the topics during the Nation in Conversation panel discussions presented at the show will be a post-election analysis of South Africa’s future. Nation in Conversation, is a platform where thought leaders from various industries discuss agricultural issues, is one of the highlights at Nampo.

The panel discussions will feature the following topics: where does South Africa stand in the global agriculture business?; public-private partnerships towards sustainable economic growth; supporting and funding a developing agriculture industry; technology and funding: the role of communal land in agricultural development; reviving the platteland; water: a critical commodity; and a glance into the future: opportunities in agriculture.

The facilitators of the panel discussions this year will be Roelf Meyer, politician and businessman; Prof Nick Binedell, director of the Gordon Institute of Business Science of the University of Pretoria; Theo Vorster, CEO of Galileo Capital; Leona Archary, deputy director of rural infrastructure and youth development at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform; Christo van der Rheede, deputy executive director at Agri SA; and Chris Burgess, editor of agricultural magazine Landbouweekblad.

The show will also feature a farmer patents’ competition in which farmers who have invented, designed, or adapted equipment to solve their own practical problems will share their inventions with fellow farmers.

At the Members’ Hall producers will have access to live Safex information, and Grain SA’s economists will be on duty to assist with enquiries. A ‘Seed to seed’ exhibition at the Grain SA/NAMPO Experience Centre in the entrance to the Members’ Hall depicts the grain path and how the organisation contributes to the grain value chain to promote sustainable production.

Other highlights of NAMPO 2019

The best of the breeders is showcased in the livestock division, and include cattle, sheep, pig, horse and goat breeds that are officially registered with SA Stud Book. A daily livestock programme of static exhibitions, inter-breed adjudications, presentation parades, and a youth show are on the programme.

A new livestock arena was constructed behind the Cattle complex, where show-horse and cattle demonstrations take place daily at scheduled times.

Game and game-related exhibitors are present again in the Wildlife Ranching SA (WRSA) Hall, close to the 4×4 trail.

Visitors with an appetite for 4×4 vehicle action or who are adventurous enough to want to experience motorcycles, four-wheelers and side-by-sides first hand, must make sure that they do not miss the daily demonstrations at the Standard Bank 4×4 and Maxxis Adventure Track motorcycle trails.

NAMPO’s well-known competition for resourceful farmer patents is displaying a new face this year. It is now known as Agricultural Farmer Plans, and is still sponsored by Omnia and presented on the same site. Landbouweekblad’s involvement as media partner gave new momentum to the competition, which also boasts different divisions for entry. Do not miss this.

Also visit the seed plots to the east of the grounds, where you can view the grain and feed crops of leading seed companies. A couple of seed exhibitors also moved their exhibitions to the seed plots this year.

A fully equipped high-definition studio has been rigged up for the Nation in Conversation programme, which is also filmed during NAMPO. Approximately 80 guests can be accommodated in the audience per discussion. Each discussion is streamed live to the Nation in Conversation smart phone app and various online platforms. Visitors to the grounds can follow conversations live on the big screens located near to the VIP area.

Stretch your visit to NAMPO 2019 by using some of the nine tractor-trailers that follow three different routes across the grounds.

The white tent close to the Polkadot tea garden is once more the home of NAMPO’s Ladies’ Programme in collaboration with Network 24. With the theme of ‘Give new life to your forgotten resolutions’, this is a must for women. Well-known personalities like Nadine Vosloo, Mareli Visser, Michelle van Breda, Jak de Priester and Retha de Villiers are performing.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that there is a lack of beautiful things for women at NAMPO. More than 80 exhibitors of household items promise a wonderful shopping experience for female visitors. In addition to Die Padstal, which ensures a true deli experience, about 12% of the exhibition areas are aimed at the finer tastes like clothing, jewellery, accessories, natural products, paintings, decorations, décor, and more.

A brand-new Senwes playground for children has been created behind the SAMPI Hall, where the kids are entertained with educationally stimulating activities, under strict supervision.