Commercial Services division/Afdeling Kommersiële Dienste

Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day

Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day successfully presented the 2014 theme The new-generation agricultural partner. More than 650 exhibitors displayed the newest technology and farming methods this year.

This year’s attendance of approximately 70 000 visitors confirmed that the Harvest Day is still a popular place to do business, convey information and build networks. The successful business transactions confirm that the Harvest Day can be regarded as one of the top trade shows in the world.

The effectiveness of the NAMPO Harvest Day as a discussion and liaison event increases every year and confirms its status as networking platform for agriculture in Africa. This year was no exception, with countries from the northern part of sub-Saharan Africa who also visited the Harvest Day.

Food security and the sourcing of investors in the agriculture of their countries was a central theme of Grain SA’s discussions with delegations from Sudan, Eritrea, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, the Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. Discussions with local role-players centred around who would be responsible for financing land reform in South Africa.

Senwes and its partners presented the second, very successful Nation in Conversation panel discussions dealing with relevant topics in agriculture this year. The well-known economist Mr Theo Vorster chaired the panel discussions this year.

The growing international interest in participation in the NAMPO Harvest Day ensured the participation of more than 52 exhibitors from 13 countries this year, including the USA, Argentina, Israel and France. The French Trade Commission in South Africa exhibited for the first time this year, and no fewer than ten French companies were represented at their stand.

New tractors and implements remain an integral part of the NAMPO Harvest Day and the mechanisation exhibitors also expanded their virtual and audio-visual demonstrations this year, bringing existing and new technology to the Harvest Day.

In addition to the exhibits, visitors could attend a variety of items on a full programme.

• The 26th Grain SA/Omnia Farmer Patent Competition again caused considerable interest among visitors. Patents could also be loaded on YouTube in video format for the first time.
• The second Grain SA/BKT/Tubestone National Ploughing Competition, testing participants’ skills with a tractor and plough, was also once more popular among Harvest Day visitors.
• The 4x4 demonstrations remain one of the highlights and no fewer than 15 models from the country’s top vehicle suppliers were demonstrated to the public this year.
• In the ladies’ programme the ladies could renew their creative thinking with a variety of demonstrations – from wardrobe planning to table decoration and food inspiration.

The large and small-stock exhibits were again a popular destination on the grounds, and the new building regulations for livestock exhibitors, to ensure uniformity in the stock complex, drew several compliments.

Grain SA Radio, in collaboration with OFM, which broadcast exclusively for the duration of the NAMPO Harvest Day, also added renewed value for visitors and exhibitors. This unique broadcast again kept NAMPO visitors updated on what was happening on and around the grounds, and a variety of current topics were discussed. Grain SA Radio also offered exhibitors the opportunity to introduce their products and services further to visitors through interviews and advertisements.

Because of on-going expansion and renovations, the members’ hall was moved to the former venue of Club 200. Over the years the members’ hall became very popular among Grain SA members and this move also led to positive comments. Fully paid-up members received preferential treatment again this year, including free access, exclusive parking and a new consumer-friendly members’ hall for the exclusive use of members of Grain SA.

The provision of refreshments during the Harvest Day remains a major challenge, and to overcome this, 19 refreshment points were allocated on a contract basis. Meals and refreshments varied between breakfast, braaivleis, steak and side dishes, to take-away meals, cool drinks, water, coffee, tea and ice cream.

This year, visitors could also enjoy delicious light meals, pastries, coffee, tea and cool drinks in the peaceful atmosphere of a new tea garden.

The NAMPO Park airstrip was also a hive of activity. A total of 293 light aircraft and 41 helicopters used the strip over the four days and the men in the control tower had their hands full with the air traffic and parking.

Graan SA se NAMPO Oesdag

Graan SA se NAMPO Oesdag het goed daarin geslaag om 2014 se tema, Die Nuwegenerasie-landbouvennoot, gestand te doen. Meer as 650 uitstallers het vanjaar die nuutste tegnologie en boerderymetodes tentoongestel.

Vanjaar se bywoning van bykans 70 000 besoekers het bevestig dat die Oesdag steeds 'n gesogte plek is om besigheid te doen, inligting oor te dra en om netwerke te bou. Die goeie besigheidstransaksies wat beklink is, bevestig dat die Oesdag as een van die top-handelstentoonstellings ter wêreld gereken kan word.

Die NAMPO Oesdag se doeltreffendheid as gesprek- en netwerkgeleentheid, verhoog elke jaar en bevestig sy status as netwerkplatform vir landbou in Afrika. Vanjaar was geen uitsondering nie, met lande uit die noordelike deel van Afrika suid van die Sahara wat ook die Oesdag besoek het.

Voedselsekerheid en die verkryging van beleggers in landbou vir hul lande was 'n sentrale tema van Graan SA se gesprekvoering met afvaardigings vanaf Soedan, Eritrea, Botswana, Kenia, Mosambiek, die Republiek van die Kongo en Ethiopië. Gesprekke met plaaslike rolspelers het egter deurgaans gehandel oor wie verantwoordelik gaan wees vir die finansiering van grondhervorming in Suid-Afrika.

Senwes en hul vennote het vanjaar die tweede, baie suksesvolle Nasie in Gesprek-paneelbesprekings aangebied, waartydens relevante onderwerpe in die landboubedryf bespreek is. Die bekende ekonoom, mnr Theo Vorster, het vanjaar die paneelbesprekings gelei.

Die groeiende internasionale belangstelling in deelname aan die NAMPO Oesdag het vanjaar gesorg dat meer as 52 uitstallers van 13 lande, wat insluit die VSA, Argentinië, Israel en Frankryk, deelgeneem het. Die Franse Handelskommissie in Suid-Afrika het vanjaar vir die eerste keer uitgestal en daar was nie minder nie as tien Franse maatskappye op hul standplaas verteenwoordig.

Nuwe trekkers en implemente bly 'n integrale deel van die NAMPO Oesdag en die meganisasie-uitstallers het ook vanjaar voortgebou op virtuele en oudiovisuele demonstrasies, met die klem daarop om bestaande en nuwe tegnologie na die Oesdag te bring.

Buiten die uitstallings, kon besoekers 'n verskeidenheid items op die propvol program bywoon.

• Die 26ste Graan SA/Omnia Boerepatentekompetisie het oudergewoonte gesorg vir groot belangstelling onder besoekers. Patente kon ook vanjaar vir die eerste keer in videoformaat op YouTube gelaai word.
• Die tweede Graan SA/BKT/Tubestone Nasionale Ploegkompetisie waar deelnemers se vaardigheid met 'n trekker en ploeg getoets is, was ook weer baie gewild onder Oesdagbesoekers.
• Die 4x4-demonstrasies bly steeds een van die hoogtepunte en daar was vanjaar nie minder nie as 15 fabrikate van die land se voorste voertuigverskaffers wat hul nuutste voertuie aan die publiek kom tentoonstel het.
• By die damesprogram kon die dames hul kreatiewe denke vernuwe met 'n verskeidenheid van demonstrasies – van klerekasbeplanning tot tafeldek asook kos-inspirasie.

Ook die groot- en kleinvee-uitstallings was weer eens 'n gewilde bestemming op die terrein en die nuwe bouregulasies vir vee-uitstallers om eenvormigheid in die veekompleks te bring, het verskeie komplimente ontlok.

Graan SA Radio, in samewerking met OFM, wat eksklusief tydens die duur van die NAMPO Oesdag uitsaai, het ook opnuut waarde toegevoeg vir beide besoekers en uitstallers. Hierdie unieke uitsending het NAMPO-besoekers vanjaar weer op hoogte gehou met dit wat op en om die terrein gebeur en 'n verskeidenheid aktuele onderwerpe is bespreek. Graan SA Radio het ook aan uitstallers die geleentheid gebied om deur middel van onderhoude en advertensies hul produkte en dienste verder aan besoekers bekend te stel.

Weens voortdurende uitbreiding en aanpassings, het die ledelokaal verskuif na die gebou waar Klub 200 voorheen gehuisves is. Die ledelokaal het oor die jare gewild geraak onder Graan SA-lede en dié verskuiwing het ook positiewe kommentaar ontlok. Volopbetaalde lede kon vanjaar weer soos in die verlede voorkeurbehandeling ontvang, wat gratis toegang, eksklusiewe parkering en 'n nuwe verbruikersvriendelike ledelokaal vir die eksklusiewe gebruik vir lede van Graan SA, insluit.

Die voorsiening van verversings tydens die Oesdag bly 'n groot uitdaging en om dit te oorkom word 19 verversingspunte op kontrakbasis toegeken. Etes en verversings het gewissel van ontbyt, braaivleis, biefstuk en bykosse, tot wegneemetes, koeldrank, water, koffie, tee en roomys.

Besoekers kon vanjaar ook 'n nuwe teetuin besoek waar heerlike ligte etes, soetgebak, koffie, tee en koeldrank bedien is in 'n rustige atmosfeer.

By die NAMPO Park-vliegveld was dit ook 'n miernes van bedrywighede. 'n Totaal van 293 ligte vliegtuie en 41 helikopters het oor die vier dae van die vliegveld gebruik gemaak en die manne in die beheertoring het hul hande vol gehad met die lugverkeer en parkering.

Graan SA en die NAMPO Oesdagkomitee bedank graag alle vrywilligers vir hulle betrokkenheid en bydrae tot die sukses van die NAMPO Oesdag asook alle uitstallers wat voertuie, werktuie en toerusting beskikbaar gestel het vir gebruik tydens die Oesdag.

NAMPO Park

During the year NAMPO Park experienced considerable activity. In addition to the normal maintenance work to ensure that the existing facilities and infrastructure remain in a good condition, the second phase of the new development on the grounds was also completed in 2014.

This second phase of the development included 19 new stands, a new kiosk and toilet block, as well as the relocation of the southern parking lot and entrance gates. The on-going need for larger exhibition space for the current exhibitors and the need to exhibit new technology were some of the main reasons for enlarging the grounds.

The fences of NAMPO Park were moved to make provision for the new layout, which will eventually provide for 60 additional stands.

This meant that the existing ticket offices and gates had to be relocated to the new parking area, which was established at the southern end of NAMPO Park. The southern vehicle access gate was also relocated to the entrance at the caravan park, while the new vehicle access road on the grounds was paved.

In line with the current facility and infrastructure standards a toilet block and a food kiosk were constructed at the new ticket office. The electricity and water supply on the new grounds were also expanded.

A further number of exhibition spaces in the cattle complex were also upgraded and only six exhibition stalls still have to be completed according to the new standards.

The large variety of well-equipped venues at NAMPO Park were again utilised for various events during the year. The venues are ideal for conferences and offer the solution to input providers and exhibitors as far as the training of personnel and the launching of products are concerned. The facilities are also ideal for a variety of private functions, like weddings, family gatherings, birthdays and reunions. Catering and overnight facilities are also available and a complete one-stop service can be provided.

SA Graan/Grain

If you are a grain producer you cannot afford not to read the monthly glossy magazine, SA Graan/Grain (a specialist publication and official mouthpiece of Grain SA).Our readers regard it as a knowledge partner and aid to sustainability in the grain and oilseeds industry.

The market positioning of SA Graan/Grain focuses on:

• Technical information on grain (inputs/production/marketing);
• relevant issues in the industry and sector;
• reporting to members and opinion makers on Grain SA’s impact and effectiveness;
• being an effective advertising platform; and
• providing a touch of “softer” editorial content that focuses on the grain producer as a person.

Exciting news to SA Graan/Grain readers is that this magazine has also been available as an electronic book (eBook) since October 2013.This book contains exactly the same content as the printed format. You can therefore receive all the most recent agricultural research, articles and news on the world of grain on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer – free of charge.

An archive (with a search function) of previous articles published in SA Graan/Grain is also available on the Grain SA web site.

SA Graan/Grain furthermore provides an effective platform for advertisers, as well as a special focus every month. Advertisers are offered the opportunity to share information on their products with readers.

NAMPO Park

Gedurende die jaar was daar 'n groot gewoel en gewerskaf op NAMPO Park. Bo en behalwe die normale instandhouding om te verseker dat die bestaande fasiliteite en infrastruktuur in 'n goeie toestand bly, is die tweede fase van die nuwe ontwikkeling op die terrein ook gedurende 2014 voltooi.

Hierdie tweede fase van die ontwikkeling het 19 nuwe standplase, 'n nuwe kiosk en toiletblok asook die verskuiwing van die suidelike parkering en toegangshekke ingesluit. Die voortdurende behoefte aan groter uitstalruimtes van huidige uitstallers en die behoefte om nuwe tegnologie te vertoon, was van die vernaamste redes vir die vergroting van die terrein.

Die grensdrade van NAMPO Park is verskuif om voorsiening te maak vir die nuwe terreinuitleg, wat uiteindelik voorsiening sal maak vir 60 addisionele standplase.

Dit het meegebring dat die bestaande kaartjiekantore en -hekke verskuif moes word na die nuwe parkering, wat gevestig is aan die suidekant van NAMPO Park. Die suidelike voertuigtoegangshek is ook verskuif na die ingang by die karavaanpark, terwyl plaveisel ook aangebring is op die nuwe voertuigtoegangspad op die terrein.

In lyn met die huidige fasiliteit- en infrastruktuurstandaarde is 'n toiletblok en 'n voedselkiosk by die nuwe kaartjiekantoor opgerig. Die elektrisiteits- en waterverspreiding op die nuwe terrein is ook uitgebrei.

'n Verdere aantal uitstalruimtes in die beeskompleks is ook opgegradeer en slegs ses uitstalruimtes moet nog volgens die nuwe standaard voltooi word.

Gedurende die jaar is die groot verskeidenheid goed toegeruste lokale op NAMPO Park weer vir verskeie geleenthede aangewend. Die lokale is ideaal vir konferensies en bied die oplossing vir insetverskaffers en uitstallers wat die opleiding van personeel en die bekendstelling van produkte betref. Die fasiliteite is ook ideaal vir 'n verskeidenheid van privaatfunksies, soos troues, familiesaamtrekke, verjaarsdae en reünies. Spysenieringsdienste en oornagfasiliteite is ook beskikbaar en 'n volledige eenstopdiens kan gelewer word.

SA Graan/Grain

As jy 'n graanprodusent is, kan jy nie bekostig om nie die maandelikse glanstydskrif SA Graan/Grain (spesialispublikasie en amptelike mondstuk van Graan SA) te lees nie. Dit word deur ons lesers as 'n kennisvennoot en hulpmiddel vir volhoubaarheid in die graan- en oliesadebedryf beskou.

SA Graan/Grain se markposisionering is gefokus op:

• Graan-tegniese inligting (insette/produksie/bemarking);
• relevante brandpunte in die bedryf en sektor;
• verslagdoening aan lede en meningvormers oor Graan SA se impak en doeltreffendheid;
• ‘n effektiewe advertensieplatform; en
• so ‘n tikkie “sagter” redaksionele inhoud wat op die menswees van die graanprodusent fokus.

Opwindende nuus vir SA Graan/Grain-lesers is dat dié tydskrif sedert Oktober 2013 ook as ‘n elektroniese blaaiboek (eBoek) beskikbaar is. Dié blaaiboek bevat presies dieselfde inhoud as die gedrukte formaat. Jy kan dus nou al die nuutste landbounavorsing, artikels en nuus oor wat in die graanwêreld aangaan, op jou slimfoon, tablet, skootrekenaar of tuisrekenaar ontvang – kosteloos.

‘n Argief (met ‘n soekfunksie) van vorige artikels wat in SA Graan/Grain gepubliseer is, is ook op die SA Graan-webbladsy beskikbaar.