Photo: Agri 5 Expo
The expo, held from 29 to 30 August at the Buffalo Club in East London, showcased cutting-edge machinery, precision farming techniques, and opportunities for emerging farmers to advance toward commercial success.
Tsholo Mokobe, managing director at Atone Works, said the event was a resounding success and expressed his satisfaction with the event’s turnout and impact.
“As the custodian of the Agri 5 Expo, our goal was to provide farmers with access to cost-effective, quality machinery that could help them transition from emerging to commercial farming. This year, we truly achieved our theme of using smart machinery and precision farming techniques, ensuring that even emerging farmers have the tools they need to succeed without compromising on quality,” Mokobe said.
The expo, now in its 11th year, continues to serve as a critical platform for developing African farmers, especially in the poultry, livestock, dairy, crop and piggery sectors.
The event facilitates meaningful participation in the agriculture sector by promoting opportunities for black farmers to transform their primary produce into agri-processing and access broader markets.
One of the key highlights of this year’s two-day event was the presence of Deputy Agriculture Minister Rosemary Nokuzola Capa and Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe. Their attendance underscored the importance of the event in the province’s agricultural landscape.
Deputy Minister Capa attended Day 2 of the 11th Annual @AGRI5_EXPO in East London, Eastern Cape. She engaged in insightful discussions with farmers and stakeholders, focusing on the future of agriculture in the region. #AGRI5Expo @GCISMedia @GovernmentZA @FarmersWeeklySA pic.twitter.com/pKM9jAJmHk
— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) September 4, 2024
The expo also featured live demonstrations of light machinery tools from Husqvarna, which drew considerable interest from attendees.
Ettienne Groenewald from Wesgrow Potatoes praised the event’s organisation and the quality of the venue, describing it as one of the best he had attended.
“The highlights for me were the number of young, upcoming farmers who attended the expo and the informative questions they asked. This shows that with every small step they take in farming, they are moving forward,” Groenewald said.
Groenewald also emphasised the importance of knowledge transfer between generations, noting that many young farmers have inherited their passion and skills from their fathers.
“The older generation is much needed to transfer knowledge because they live so close to nature. Combining this traditional wisdom with modern farming techniques creates a winning recipe,” he added.
The Agri5 Expo provided a valuable opportunity for private companies, government departments, and agencies to promote their social programmes, engage in dialogue, and share development experiences with African farmers.
The Agri5 Expo is set to continue growing as a vital event for the agricultural community in South Africa, with the next expo scheduled for 30 to 31 October at Breeze Inn in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. For more information, visit agri5expo.co.za.
