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CHAPTER 6
Grain and oilseeds industries become one
Unification in the grain and oilseeds industries followed nearly two decades later, in
1999, after the deregulation of agricultural marketing in 1997. Speciality organisations
representing producers from the maize, winter cereals, sorghum as well as oil protein
seeds industries established the biggest agricultural producers’ organisation in the
country. The Harvest Day was once more part of the assets that NAMPO brought to
the newly established speciality organisation.
The initial name – the Grain Producers’ Organisation (GPO) – made room for a brand
new corporate identity when Grain SA was unanimously approved by the annual
Congress on 8 March 2000.
With a proud history stretching over five decades the Harvest Day is today a
combination of themost recent agricultural technology, product variety, innovation,
discussions, networking opportunities and agricultural hospitality – upholding its
reputation as southern Africa’s agricultural showcase.
During a special event at NAMPO 2016 Grain SA acknowledged the contribution
of exhibitors, volunteers, the agricultural leadership and staff to the Harvest Day
since 1967. Special recognition was given to seven of the eight exhibitors at the
1967 Harvest Day who are still exhibiting today, as well as to sixteen exhibitors
who have been exhibiting continuously since 1974 at the current venue.
BY PRODUCERS FOR PRODUCERS
Since its inception the Harvest Day has been owned and presented by volunteer
grain producers’ organisations: first by SAMPI, later – after unification in the maize
industry in 1980 – by NAMPO, and since the consolidation of grain organisations
in 1999 by Grain SA.
The winning recipe of an effective committee system, the support from volunteers
from the communities in the grain producing areas, as well as dedicated staff has
contributed to the Harvest Day being widely acknowledged today as the biggest
agricultural exhibit in private ownership in the world.
The same determination of maize producers that led to the founding of SAMPI
echoed in the organisation of the Harvest Day, with a principle of ‘by farmers for
farmers’ that quickly became established. As a young organisation SAMPI could
not afford full-time staff and members had to roll up their sleeves themselves
to get the work done. More than 200 volunteers comprising existing members
of Grain SA and its predecessors and their families, as well as people from the
community who supported the cause of the Harvest Day, jumped in every year to
prepare and serve refreshments.
Special recognition was given to six of the eight exhibitors of the 1967 Harvest Day who
are still exhibiting today, as well as to 17 exhibitors who have been exhibiting continu-
ously since 1974 at the current venue. At the function were personnel from New Holland
SA, Argo, BarloworldAgri, KempstonAgri (Claas), Eqstra (Deutz & Same), Shell, Syngenta,
Rovic Leers, Pannar, Senwes and Bessemer.
Video: A commemorative DVD production to
commemorate the 50th Harvest Day in 2016
was made at the direction of Grain SA.
EXHIBITORS IN 2016
WHO HAVE EXHIBITED AT
NAMPO PARK SINCE 1974
1. New Holland SA
2. Argo Industrial
3. John Deere
4. Northmec
5. Barloworld Agriculture
6. Kempston Agri (Claas)
7. Eqstra (Deutz & Same)
8. Shell
9. Syngenta
10. Andrag Agrico
11. Erdvark Implemente
12. Rovic Leers
13. Pannar
14. Senwes
15. Engen
16. Bessemer
