Chrystal van Wyk, a director at Bredasdorp Park, told Farmer’s Weekly it was down to the wire as final preparations for this year’s expo were being made. She added that about 600 exhibitors would be participating this year, and they were gearing up for an expected increase on the roughly 45 000 visitors who attended in 2024.
“We’ve added 7ha of parking because we’re expecting more feet this year,” she said.
Van Wyk added that the winter grain production area was looking magnificent, with hectares of canola fields in full yellow bloom.
“It’s a feast for the eye […] It’s also good to know the farmers are going to take good harvests off the land this year, because they’ve had ups and downs over the past few years.”
When asked to compare Nampo Cape with its Free State counterpart, Van Wyk said that while the Western Cape event had a stronger focus on winter grain production, it was also more “intimate”.
“It is smaller [than Nampo], so people can spend more time with exhibitors, stand around and chat, and network,” she explained.
According to a statement issued by Grain SA, Nampo Cape was a platform for innovation, tradition, and agricultural excellence to come together.
Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo said the Cape version of the annual agricultural event continued to grow in significance.
“Together with Bredasdorp Park, we are proud to offer a refreshed experience that connects farmers, agri professionals, and families with the cutting-edge developments shaping our sector’s future,” he said in the statement.
The event, which was launched in 2018, was expected to offer a host of new features this year that promised to make it “the most dynamic yet”.
Organisers said the additional parking on the north-western side had increased Bredasdorp Park’s capacity to 13ha, while a new entrance near the Neptun Hall would improve visitor access and traffic flow.
The Landbank Livestock Tent had been relocated and was now alongside the BKB Livestock Centre. It had also been expanded to host 35 exhibitors. Newcomers included representatives showcasing Île-de-France, Suffolk, and Persian sheep breeds, as well as Limousin and Chianina cattle.
Van Wyk said they were excited about the Merino programme, which included the reintroduction of the BKB Merino Classic after a three-year break. Another event was the BKB National Merino Fleece Show, which gave visitors a chance to appreciate the “exceptional quality of Merino wool”.
Other highlights will include the SA Boerboel Championships; and equestrian events such as the debut of an international tent-pegging competition between teams representing South Africa and Australia, described as a “fast-paced equestrian sport involving sword and lance skills”.
Nampo Cape was expected to showcase the diverse agriculture practiced in the area and across the country, from grain and livestock to niche products like wine. There would be several talks on a variety of themes, as well as a seminar for protected vegetable production.
For more information on the event and the full programme, visit nampocape.co.za.
