Anticipation grows as Nampo Harvest Day approaches

With the theme ‘Global agriculture, locally!’, this year’s Nampo Harvest Day (Nampo) is expected to draw more than 70 000 visitors to Nampo Park in Bothaville from 13 to 16 May.

Anticipation grows as Nampo Harvest Day approaches
- Advertisement -

The event, now in its 57th year, remains the largest and most influential agricultural trade show in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a critical platform for South Africa’s producers to engage with global innovations and networks.

According to a press statement from Grain SA, this year’s edition of Nampo comes at a time when agriculture worldwide is grappling with rising input costs, climate change, and increasingly interlinked food systems.

READ Nampo 2024 ends on high note with highest number of visitors on record

- Advertisement -

“South African producers understand that they are not farming in isolation. What happens globally, whether it’s innovation, trade flows or climate patterns, affects what happens locally,” said Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo.

Nampo 2025 will showcase cutting-edge technologies, climate-smart practices, digital solutions, and precision agriculture tools, all adapted for local use. It remains the only event of its kind in the country where producers, agribusinesses and service providers can connect, collaborate, and trade under one roof.

The event has grown exponentially since its inception in 1967, when it was known as the Sampi Harvest Day. While its format has changed over the decades, the purpose remains the same: to offer a space for practical learning, innovation, and agricultural exchange.

“This event is more than worth our while,” said Boetie Hattingh, chairperson of the Senepol Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa. “We are inundated with possible buyers and people who want to learn more about the breed. Nampo is by far the best event to introduce livestock to the market.”

Regina Harmse, an Ille de France stud breeder in Ermelo, described Nampo as more than just a showcase.

“It’s the biggest social event on the agricultural calendar for us. We reconnect with fellow farmers, share ideas for the new season, and engage with the latest livestock and technology offerings,” she said.

For Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing for agriculture at FNB, the strength of Nampo lies in how it brings the entire agricultural value chain together.

“It’s a critical communication platform, not only between businesses and farmers, but also among farmers themselves. For example, a producer from the Eastern Cape can exchange ideas with one from Limpopo. It’s a melting pot of knowledge and collaboration.”

As Nampo 2025 approaches, Grain SA has reaffirmed the event’s role in helping producers strengthen their competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The global agricultural landscape may be shifting rapidly, but Nampo remains firmly grounded in South Africa’s farming future.

- Advertisement -ADVERTISEMENT