Billed as the biggest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere, organisers of the Nampo Harvest Day announced its return to Bothaville in the Free State from 16 to 22 May this year. This, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Over the weekend, health minister Joe Phaahla again hinted that South Africa would lift its coronavirus state of disaster, bringing an end to many of the restrictions that hindered trade. Last week, during Grain SA’s annual congress, members also voted in favour of presenting Nampo in its original timeslot “with adherence to any national regulations which may be in place.”
For the first time in its history the annual farmers’ event will be presented over five days.
“The effects of not hosting a Harvest Day at Nampo Park since 2019 had far-reaching consequences not only for the organisation, but also for the surrounding towns. The local district, not yet recovered from excessive water damage in January, relies heavily on the economic and financial injection brought about by the Harvest Day,” said Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s lead for marketing, Nampo and research.
In a media release, organisers say the upcoming 54th Nampo Harvest Day offers a unique platform through which producers can expand knowledge and explore new technology and productivity solutions. Nampo also allows the public and other role players to experience commercial agriculture and food safety and security in action.
Nampo is regarded as “the heartbeat of agriculture in South Africa,” said Grain SA.
In consultation with exhibitors more than 80% indicated the need to host the Harvest Day in May 2022 and concurred an extra day in the schedule could add much-needed business opportunity.
“With close to 800 exhibitors, Nampo is the platform to network with the agricultural industry’s top role players, strengthen friendships and relationships and enjoy what this unique show offers in a peaceful farming atmosphere,” said Danie Minnaar, chairperson of the Nampo Harvest Day.
He added that the best technology and knowledge for producers to farm sustainably can be found at Nampo. “Even though agriculture remain under immense pressure, agriculturalists still have enough passion for farming to explore every aspect of agriculture that the Harvest Day has to offer in order to remain competitive and relevant.”
Impact felt throughout Sub-Saharan Africa
The absence of Nampo Harvest Day highlighted the critical role this platform plays to facilitate networking in the agricultural sector, said Dr Pieter Taljaard, Grain SA’s chief executive.
“To host government representatives and stakeholders from the agricultural value chain provide opportunity for important and sometimes challenging conversations to take place, in an environment conducive to and aimed at promoting the sector locally and throughout the Sub-Saharan region,” he said.
Implementation will now start in all earnest and Grain SA is excited and geared to welcome back producers, agricultural stakeholders, suppliers, other value chain players as well as the public to this showcase, offering a diversified exhibition with a variety of new technology, products, and services on one site. Details regarding ticket sales and show times will be communicated in due course.
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