Ambassador David Martinon not only lauded Grain SA’s 2024 Nampo Harvest Day as Africa’s greatest agricultural showcase but also stressed the significance of bolstering trade ties between enterprises from France and South Africa.
Highlighting France’s commitment to technological advancements, water conservation practices, and commercial partnerships in Africa, particularly South Africa, the French envoy outlined several initiatives aimed at knowledge sharing and supporting new farmers.
“We believe that it is crucially important to ensure that the expertise needed to make a living from agriculture are shared,” said Martinon in an interview at Nampo Park in Bothaville, Free State, this week. “We have an expert from France based in Limpopo who coordinates all that France has to offer, reaching out to underserved areas and providing agricultural education to new farmers.”
Agricultural technology and solutions
Martinon said the presence of France-based companies at Nampo Harvest Day was to engage with farmers and farming entities about their products, mainly focusing on technology. Among the French enterprises are Marechal Electric, SNF, Lacto Production, Linkfluid Southern Africa, and Bugnot 55.
“We offer premium and excellent agricultural equipment, which is why some of these companies are here. I also see that French chemical companies are here to propose new solutions dedicated to the preservation of water, which is a challenge in South Africa and the African continent,” he added.
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Nampo essential for showcasing agricultural innovation
Meanwhile, Marc Cagnard, managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Business France, underscored the critical importance of the Nampo festival for French businesses, stating that it is a pivotal event for showcasing advanced agricultural technology and forging essential partnerships in the agricultural sector.
Participation in this event is indispensable for French companies aiming to make a significant impact in African agriculture.
“It is an impressive and very large event with remarkable equipment, and it is worth noting that South Africa is powerful in terms of agriculture.
“As Business France, we have been exhibiting here at Nampo for more than 10 years, and every year we bring new France-based companies. We have had companies returning, which indicates there is a market and interest in products and services from France. That is important for us, and we look forward to the companies collaborating because South Africa is a huge market.”
Cagnard furthermore expressed satisfaction that there were French-based companies thriving in South Africa, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“We have companies involved in agro-processing, significant players in agriculture, and our aim is to facilitate smooth trade relations.
“Out of our 15 team members based in Johannesburg, three focus solely on agriculture, highlighting the sector’s importance to us. Their role is to connect French companies with local ones, making events like Nampo pivotal for expanding business opportunities,” he said.
Cagnard also mentioned that part of their product offering includes introducing new items to consumers, such as French wines and champagnes, which could significantly boost agri-tourism.
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