By Maile Matsimela
As thousands of farmers, agricultural professionals and enthusiasts flooded through the gates of Nampo Park in Bothaville this week for the 2025 Nampo Harvest Day, few may realise they’re participating in an event with nearly six decades of rich history.
This year’s theme, “Global Agriculture, Locally!”, perfectly encapsulates how a modest farmers’ gathering has transformed into South Africa’s premier agricultural showcase and one of the largest farm exhibitions in the Southern Hemisphere.
The story of Nampo begins in 1967, when approximately 200 maize farmers gathered on the farm Donkerhoek near Bloemfontein for what was then called the “Sampi Harvest Day”. Unlike today’s expansive exhibition with hundreds of displays, the original event focused primarily on practical farming demonstrations. Farmers could witness tractors and other farming equipment working in actual field conditions.
According to information obtained from Grain SA, back then farmers needed a place where they could see equipment working side by side under the same conditions. That practical approach remains at the heart of Nampo today, even as the event has grown exponentially.
By the early 1970s, the Harvest Day’s popularity had spawned multiple regional events across South Africa’s maize-growing regions. Recognising the need for consolidation and expansion, organisers made a pivotal decision in 1974 to establish a permanent home outside Bothaville.
The location, what we now know as Nampo Park, was strategically chosen for its central position within South Africa’s maize belt and excellent road access for visitors travelling from various parts of the country. The acquisition of permanent grounds allowed for infrastructure development and year-round planning that would prove essential to the event’s future growth.
History records show the 1980s brought further structure to the developing exhibition when South Africa’s maize producers formally established the National Maize Producers’ Organisation (Nampo), cementing the event’s identity and providing the organisational framework that would guide its expansion for decades to come.
Through the subsequent decades, Nampo Harvest Day steadily grew in both scope and attendance. What began with 200 attendees in 1967 swelled to impressive figures – by 2019 the event was attracting around 81 000 visitors and 800 exhibitors. In 2024, it reached a milestone of nearly 100 000 visitors.
Today’s Nampo Park has become a source of inspiration to emerging farmers who flock to the event to witness cutting-edge technology that makes farming convenient.
It features extensive exhibition spaces, field demonstration areas and significant infrastructure developments that allow it to host one of the world’s premier agricultural trade shows.
The Wall of Remembrance, erected in 2007, honours commercial farmers and farm workers who have died in farm-related incidents since 1961, a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in pursuit of agricultural progress.
Beyond mere exhibition space, Nampo has evolved into a critical platform for addressing the challenges facing modern agriculture. Discussions at the 2025 event covered pressing issues, including farm security, market access expansion and crop technology advancements that could improve South Africa’s global competitiveness.
The journey from a modest farmers’ gathering to an internationally recognised agricultural showcase reflects the growth and advancement of South Africa’s agricultural industry itself. As climate challenges, technological revolutions and market transformations reshape farming globally, Nampo continues to serve as both witness to and catalyst for agricultural evolution.
As visitors navigated the bustling exhibition halls and demonstration fields at the 2025 Harvest Day, they were not just participating in a trade show but were taking part in a living agricultural tradition that continues to adapt and thrive, connecting South African farming to global innovations while maintaining its local roots.
Grain SA confirmed the first two days of the 57th Nampo Harvest Day, which kicked off on Tuesday 13 May, have been a great success. Nampo Park was abuzz during the three days, with Tuesday’s attendance reaching 17 545, and no less than 85 aircraft and 16 helicopters landing at the Nampo airfield. On Wednesday, the prestigious event attracted 24 545 visitors, 109 aeroplanes and 19 helicopters, while Thursday saw 24 443 visitors, 105 aeroplanes and 19 helicopters.
As is customary, Nampo 2025 opened on Day 1 with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance.
“The success of Day 1 continued today. Day 2 is always a popular day and the attendance figures reflect that,” said Dr Dirk Strydom, Managing Director of Nampo (Pty) Ltd, on Wednesday 14 May.
Grain SA reports Nampo 2025 further cemented its status as the premier agricultural trade show in the Southern Hemisphere when President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by his farm manager, visited the Harvest Day on Tuesday in his capacity as a farmer to explore the latest agricultural innovations and conduct business. He also took the time to engage Grain SA leadership on matters critical to the grain sector.
President Ramaphosa shared his views on the policy process and reaffirmed government’s commitment to increasing investment in agriculture and supporting the development of modern technologies. He also pledged that focused interventions will be introduced to improve the safety of farmers and rural communities, a commitment Grain SA welcomed. Deputy President Paul Mashatile also visited Nampo Park on Thursday and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen on Friday.
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