A visit to the annual NAMPO Harvest Day is not only good fun. It also breaks the traditional urban thinking and incorrectly held perceptions about the agricultural segment as being ‘n boer maak ‘n plan sector. This year’s NAMPO, held under the theme of ‘See Tomorrow’s Technology Today’ really lived up to that slogan. As the show is owned by Grain South Africa members, its continued existence depends on meeting the needs of these farmers first and foremost. Its focus is farmers from the summer grain areas. But it’s much, much more as Dave Scott found when he visited the show. 

When it comes to agriculture it seems we think only of farmers and tractors and derivatives thereof. Nothing could be further from reality. Modern farming with cost and productivity pressures, global warming, fuel price gyrations, labour relations and all the other maverick influences of weather and pest control makes this segment a tough place to be. NAMPO addresses all these issues and can take its place as South Africa’s premier agricultural show. There’s much high-tech stuff to be seen. 

If it’s material handling equipment, then NAMPO has vast  displays to satisfy the search for specialist machines that are essential to an effective logistical chain. Road transport is only a part of logistics and effective trucking depends on the machinery to load and unload in double-quick time. 

Everyone – especially farmers – loves a bakkie and the motor manufacturers go to town here with 4 X 4 and bakkies to suit every description. Toyota was conspicuous by its absence? For the bush-beaters, there’s a well laid out 4 X 4 track where all the off-roaders show off twice daily and you can see your favourite SUV get truly stuck. 

Controlled practical demonstrations of machinery and implements are a unique feature of the show which allows farmers to view demonstrations of an exhaustive range of machinery and implements, establish their performance and effectiveness and use this knowledge for product purchases in future. 

The major truck manufacturers are all there with the emphasis being on body equipment to suit farming applications. The thrust is towards truck equipment versatility – how many applications can be handled on one chassis? The problem is that livestock transport requires different body configurations between sheep and cattle, including bulk maize. Another challenge is the seasonal factor in farming and this is a reason why freight carriers with high combination masses are preferred – the vehicle operates out of season solo and hitches up a trailer when the season is in full swing. 

NAMPO has a different atmosphere compared to the big city events. Not that it’s mainly outside but that it has an ‘honest-to-goodness’ feel about it. It’s really subject to the weather and you have to wear highfactor block-out. Friday morning the 15th was the last day and it was a cold day but people were cheerful wherever one went. 

Held on a large site between Klerksdorp and Bothaville, NAMPO covers a big area – be prepared to walk and taking into account travel time, one day is not enough if you’re out of town. The problem is accommodation for over-night stays and staying within a reasonable driving distance, such as Klerksdorp, is a solution because the show opens at 07h00. 

Attending the show, Fergus Sexton who heads up UTi Pharma, an express courier operation delivering drugs and pharmaceutical products sums it up: “I really enjoy NAMPO and never miss an event”. And I too will not miss NAMPO in the future. It’s very South African. But eishhhhh……that long drive home!