The 57th NAMPO Harvest Day, held from May 13–16, 2025, at NAMPO Park in Bothaville, Free State, was a resounding success, drawing over 86,000 visitors and 900 exhibitors under the theme
“Global Agriculture, Locally!”. Organized by Grain SA, this premier agricultural exhibition—the largest privately owned show in the Southern Hemisphere—served as a vibrant platform for farmers, agribusinesses, and policymakers to explore innovations, address challenges, and chart a sustainable path forward for South African agriculture. Amid a challenging season marked by erratic weather and economic pressures, NAMPO 2025 delivered critical lessons and messages for farmers, focusing on resilience, technology, sustainability, and collaboration. Below, we delve into the key takeaways and discussions that will shape the future of farming.
South African farmers faced a tough 2024/25 summer crop season, with erratic rainfall, drought, and late rains causing crop stress, disease, and logistical challenges. Wet harvesting conditions led to ear rots and premature germination, while damaged infrastructure like gravel roads hindered operations. Despite these setbacks, NAMPO 2025 highlighted the resilience of farmers, with Grain SA acknowledging their adaptability as a cornerstone of the industry’s strength.
Farmers must remain agile, adopting proactive measures to navigate climate change and market volatility. NAMPO’s optimism, despite challenges, reinforced that resilience paired with strategic planning can sustain profitability. Technology was a central focus at NAMPO 2025, with exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge machinery, precision agriculture tools, and digital solutions. The theme “Global Agriculture, Locally!” emphasized integrating global innovations into local farming practices. From drones for precision planting to AI-driven analytics, NAMPO demonstrated how technology boosts productivity and sustainability.
Sustainability was a major theme, with discussions on conservation agriculture gaining traction. At a media event hosted by FNB, speakers like grain farmer Cobus van Coller shared insights on implementing conservation practices, noting that trial-and-error phases have become less costly as knowledge improves. The “J-curve” financial trend—where income dips initially but rises sharply—was cited as evidence that sustainable practices are becoming more bankable, with FNB’s Sustainable Agriculture Loan seeing strong uptake for projects like solar systems and water conservation.
NAMPO 2025 saw a surge in young farmers and students, challenging the notion that youth are disinterested in agriculture. Dr. Theo de Jager noted their innovative approaches, predicting they’ll introduce solutions older generations haven’t considered. The Grain SA Learner Project, engaging Grade 11 and 12 students in digital media skills, further empowered youth to contribute to the secton.
The “Nation in Conversation” panel at the 2025 NAMPO Harvest Day, held from May 13–16 at NAMPO Park in Bothaville, Free State, was a cornerstone of the event, bringing together farmers, industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to tackle pressing issues in South African agriculture. Under the theme “Global Agriculture, Locally!”, the panel discussions, hosted in a state-of-the-art studio and live-streamed to a global audience, zeroed in on a central message: collaboration across the agricultural value chain, paired with inclusive financing, is essential to build a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future for South African farming.
Food security was a recurring theme, with panellists stressing that collaborative efforts are essential to maintain South Africa’s status as a net food exporter. Land reform was discussed as a critical component, but with a caveat: it must be implemented in ways that enhance productivity and inclusivity without disrupting existing agricultural output. Inclusive financing was seen as a bridge to support new landowners, ensuring they have the capital and skills to succeed.
Damaged rural roads, like the R30 closure near Bothaville, highlighted the urgent need for government-private sector collaboration to upgrade transport, water, and energy infrastructure. Panellists argued that reliable infrastructure is non-negotiable for efficient market access and cost reduction, urging farmers to advocate collectively through platforms like Grain SA.
Value Chain Integration: Discussions underscored the need for stronger links between farmers, suppliers, financiers, and retailers. For instance, Grain SA’s Dr. Tobias Doyer noted that NAMPO’s strength lies in fostering relationships that enable better planning and innovation, a sentiment echoed in the panel’s call for integrated solutions across the supply chain.
Cross-Sector Partnerships: Collaboration with non-agricultural sectors, such as technology and finance, was highlighted as a way to bring global innovations to local farms. Exhibitors like Bridgestone, showcasing advanced tyres to reduce soil compaction, exemplified how private sector innovation supports farmers’ operational efficiency.
The “Nation in Conversation” panel at NAMPO 2025 delivered a powerful message: South African agriculture can thrive in the face of challenges, but only through collaboration and inclusive financing. By uniting farmers, government, and private sector players, the sector can address infrastructure gaps, empower emerging producers, and ensure food security. As Dr. Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s Head of Corporate Services, noted, NAMPO’s ability to bring global agriculture to a local stage equips farmers with immediate, actionable solutions. With the 2026 NAMPO already on the horizon, the call is clear: farmers must act collectively, leveraging partnerships and financing to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Because of our High standard of Video productions we do find it easy to get good programs of Nampo. Most of the videos is unprofessional and the standards is very low. Today you got the best up to date equipment to produce the best quality videos- but the lack of quality programs is a huge problem. We always on the look out for quality Agriculture programs.
