Agri Kultuur August / Augustus 2018 | Page 6

NAMPO Cape 2018 Gerda Kriel N ampo Cape 2018 was officially launched on Wednesday 1 August at the Asara Wine Estate near Stellenbosch. Mr Henk Aggenbach, Chairman, Bredasdorp Park, NPC emphasised that Nampo Cape is an Expo not a show: “Each town must have its own show, but an event like Nampo Cape aims to promote agriculture, introduce new technology, disseminate information and provide training on a regional scale.” He wishes to involve the agricultural community outside Bredasdorp at Nampo Cape by way of Overberg Agri, Kaap Agri and SSK who already committed themselves to Nampo Cape in February 2018. Mr Sean Walsh, Managing Director of Kaap Agri, expressed his optimism that Nampo Cape will become popular, “It will be fantastic if Nampo Cape can eventually become as big as the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville.” Mr Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, assured the organisers of the provincial government’s whole-hearted support saying, “Agriculture comprises 10% of the Western Cape’s economy and provides work for 300 000 people. It is an important and integral part of our economy.” He added that more than 27 000 job opportunities were lost in the Western Cape due to the drought but trusts in the agricultural sector’s innovation to overcome all obstacles. Mr. Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Agri SA, said: “This is the season where we have to look at the road ahead for agriculture. People have to engage in discourse and seek solutions for the challenges.” He added, “Nampo’s heart is here Hugo Lochner, SA Agricultural Writers; Henk Aggenbach, Chairman Bredasdorp Park NPC; Pete Gottgens, Asara Estate Manager; Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities; Jannie de Villiers and Dr Dirk Strydom of Grain SA at the Nampo Cape launch AgriKultuur |AgriCulture 6