Unveiling Nampo: Mahindra's innovative presence at South Africa's agricultural show
When the President and Vice President make an effort to go to Bothaville in the Free State to attend on two separate days, then you know it's more than just a casual gathering of commercial farmers.
If you've never heard of Nampo, well, then you're missing out on the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere.
Big in every way
Last year, during the four days of the event, more than 200 aeroplanes and 75 helicopters landed at the little airstrip, making it one of the busiest airspaces in the country, and almost 87 000 people passed through the gates.
That's just a few thousand short of a full FNB Stadium.
Financial institutions and big corporations have permanent structures and there's apparently a waiting list of many hundreds that want to be there.
It's more than just an agricultural show with all its ancillary products, it's an impressive gathering of a cross section of all South Africans.
Trying to walk the 40 hectares display area in a day is impossible but when you stroll through there are implements the size of a town house selling for R22-million and you have no idea what it does.
That's apart from the tractors and other motorised implements that feature some of the most high-tech digital features in the world.
It's also a showcase of virtually every vehicle manufacturer in the country, looking to expose their products to a captive audience.
Mahindra presence
It's no surprise, then, that Mahindra was there with their array of vehicles on display.
They've even built a permanent structure on the aptly named Mahindra Lane.
While most of us know the marque for their bakkies and SUVs, they are also the world's largest manufacturer of tractors by volume, some of them on display at Nampo.
"Mahindra started its journey in South Africa among the farming community, knowing full well that if it could prove its toughness and value for money to this segment, then the rest would follow," said Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
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