More Than Just Farming: The Nampo Experience
Nampo, the largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, is an annual highlight hosted by GrainSA at Nampo Park in Bothaville. While it showcases the latest agricultural technology and equipment, Nampo is much more than a farmers’ event—it’s a spectacle that draws visitors from all walks of life. The sprawling stands, which stretch for kilometres, invite you to dream of owning the latest Toyota Prado, a sleek quad bike, or a state-of-the-art camping trailer. Along the way, you’ll discover a variety of offerings, from mouth-watering food sold by non-profit organisations to clothing that ranges from wool socks to sheepskin slippers, genuine leather goods, and locally produced deli products.
A day at Nampo is not just about browsing or indulging in delicious treats; it’s an opportunity to experience the best of local innovation, discover unique products, and find one-of-a-kind gifts you might not have encountered elsewhere.
How Technology is Transforming Agriculture
The theme for Nampo 2024, “Embracing Connectivity for Sustainable Growth,” highlighted the growing role of technology and automation in agriculture. Connectivity has long been a challenge in South Africa’s remote areas, but with satellite connectivity now available, opportunities for modernising farming practices with IoT devices, remote monitoring systems, and automation are expanding. JoJo is leading the way in this development, and our IoT Tank Level is just the beginning. We are committed to offering the agricultural sector more than just tanks—we aim to provide comprehensive solutions that drive sustainable growth.
JoJo’s Legacy in Agriculture: From Fibreglass Tanks to Market Leadership
JoJo has deep roots in the agricultural sector. Our journey began when Oom Jan Joubert, JoJo’s founder, crafted the first tank from fibreglass for his pivot irrigation system. His neighbour soon requested one too, and 40 years later, JoJo remains the market leader in roto-moulded products for agriculture. Our product range includes water storage tanks, animal troughs, horizontal transport tanks, and chemical vertical and silo tanks, all of which we proudly exhibit at Nampo each year.
Our commitment to quality and innovation is evident in every JoJo product. Our popular water tanks meet the national tank standard, SANS 1731:2017, across all eight of our operations and come with a 40-year-plus track record and a 10-year warranty. These tanks are more than just storage solutions; they’re long-term investments designed to add value to farmers’ daily operations and long-term plans.
This year, we occupied Stand 1A, a prime location next to the VIP gate. As our product range has expanded significantly over the past five years, we needed a larger space to showcase all our water solutions. Our exhibition featured our Slimline™ range of tanks, pressure and borehole pumps, large-scale vertical and underground tanks, and our Disruptor™ filtration range.
For the first time, we demonstrated how Calcamite sewage plants work, using a scale model of a bio-reactor to explain the difference between a conventional septic tank and a sewage treatment plant. We also showcased our latest innovation, the IoT Tank Level, with a live demo. This locally engineered and manufactured device uses radar to measure water levels in JoJo tanks, transmitting the data via a LPWAN network (Sigfox) and/or Bluetooth to the JoJo Monitor Application. This cutting-edge device not only monitors tank levels but also enables users to view current and historical data, compare water storage and consumption, set up customisable alerts, and share data with others.
Another new product we introduced was our Remote Tank Pump Controller. This handy device allows farmers to control a pump remotely over a 4km distance by sending a radio signal to switch the pump off when the tank is full and on again when the water level drops to a predetermined point.
Connecting with the Community
The JoJo stand was a must-visit destination at Nampo 2024. Our impressive barn door entrance became a popular selfie spot, while children delighted in tossing straw into the fishpond and climbing on the steel horse and cow.
With nearly 100,000 attendees at Nampo 2024, it felt as though everyone stopped by our stand. We saw significant interest in the JoJo Slimline™ range, the Calcamite sewage plants, and our water monitoring and management devices. The JoJo filtration range also garnered attention. One customer, already impressed by the quality of our filtered water, enthusiastically recommended the range to others and even shared his contact details with a potential buyer. Another customer proudly showed off photos of his DIY JoJo installation, featuring a Low Profile JoJo Tank that fitted perfectly beneath his wall. These interactions underscored the importance of our product range and the value it adds to our customers’ lives.
Looking Ahead: JoJo’s Plans for Nampo Cape 2024
The next Nampo Harvest Day isn’t far off—Nampo Cape will take place in September in Bredasdorp. JoJo will be there with the same exhibition as in Bothaville, ready to educate, entertain, and engage with farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and dreamers alike. Stay updated by following our social media pages.
