As the world progresses into the digital era, the agricultural sector in South Africa stands at the brink of a transformative journey. With technology rapidly integrating into every facet of our lives, the relevance of agriculture in a digital age cannot be overstated.
The Mahindra outdoor exhibition at NAMPO 2023.
NAMPO 2024, the 56th presentation of Harvest Day from 14 - 17 May, is geared to showcase the newest trends and developments! Since its inception, the NAMPO Harvest Day has taken the lead in displaying agricultural innovation on a one-stop platform in South Africa.
The theme “Agriculture in a Digital Age” echoes South African producers who increasingly recognise the significance of connectivity in driving efficiency, sustainability, and prosperity in farming practices. Harnessing the power of digital tools and platforms, farmers are unlocking unprecedented opportunities to enhance productivity, optimise resource utilisation, and improve livelihoods.
In a landscape where connectivity is becoming an ever-present reality, South African farmers leverage digital solutions to overcome traditional challenges and drive their operations forward. From remote rural communities to the conventional farming districts, the adoption of digital technologies is revolutionising agricultural practices, making them more resilient and adaptive to the evolving demands of the market and the environment.
“NAMPO plays an important role in connecting the agricultural sector by offering producers a one-stop environment to interact and do business with small and large businesses and relevant role players. The South African agricultural community realise that staying connected is not just a luxury, but necessity for growth in today’s competitive Agri-landscape. NAMPO is the trade show that offer producers a platform to access information and interact with services and products on offer related to production, machinery, food-processing, inputs, precision agriculture and financial solutions.” Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s Head of NAMPO, Marketing & Research Development said.
What’s New
NAMPO has installed three 500kVA generators, which, added to the existing 300kVA capacity, will supply enough electricity to comply with the demand during the NAMPO Harvest Day. Many exhibitors are upgrading and expanding their exhibition offerings, and the newly added Midas Hall on the south-eastern side of the park added an additional 60 indoor exhibitors.
The NAMPO App now offer visitors better access to exhibitors and their locations with the park layout at their fingertips. Through the NAMPO App, visitors can bookmark events, browse, and bookmark exhibitions to visit, take 3D-virutal tours of the park and find their way to any stand through the navigation function.
Traditional NAMPO favourites still fill up the days, including the popular 4x4 vehicle demonstrations on the Standard Bank 4x4-track and the African Group Lubricants Adventure Track for side-by-side, motorcycle, and quad trails. The seed plots on the eastern side of the park, offer a view of grain and feed crops and grass varieties of SA’s leading seed companies.
Getting around
Navigating the expansive grounds of NAMPO Park is made easier through various transportation options. OFM, NAMPO’s official media partner, will broadcast live from NAMPO Park, featuring a dedicated Agri hour and providing traffic updates throughout the day to ensure safe travel for listeners.
The "Mieliehop" shuttle service operates daily between NAMPO Park and Bothaville, offering long-distance shuttles from OR Tambo airport and surrounding towns. Century Avionics's airport lounge welcomes air travellers to the northern side of the park, with a shuttle service available to Gate 3. Additionally, visitors can hop on one of the nine tractor trailers traversing different routes across the grounds, to help visitors move between different exhibitions and providing relief for tired feet through designated shuttle stops and schedules.
“NAMPO Harvest Day is still a not-to-be-missed highlight on the South African agricultural calendar. This unique platform facilitates peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking among farmers, researchers, and agricultural experts. South African producers can exchange ideas, learn from each other's experiences, strengthen friendships, and collectively address common challenges, all in one place”, Strydom concluded.
Tickets are available from TicketPro (www.ticketpros.co.za) from the beginning of April 2024 with discounted entry fees when purchasing online.
