South Africa: Undercover Farming Expo & Conference a must for intensive farmers

Suppliers and producers in the tunnel and covered farming sector should not miss the Undercover Farming Expo & Conference being held at The Saint George Hotel & Convention Centre near Pretoria from 5 to 7 March 2013. This event focuses on intensive farming techniques and the industry. It offers a large exhibition with products and services for the intensive farming industry, farm visits, networking opportunities, workshops and a high level conference themed ‘Applying technology for sustainability.

Hanlie Delport, Exhibition Manager of Undercover Farming Expo, says this event is well on its way to establish itself amongst the finest of its kind in Africa. “In a survey completed after last year’s expo, 93 percent of our exhibitors indicated that they were satisfied with the quality of visitors who attended the expo, 91 percent felt that the expo met their expectations and 94.1 percent indicated that they will exhibit again in 2013.

“Exhibition space at this year’s expo is fully booked inside the hall and we have very limited space available for outside exhibitors. Our exhibitors cover all the elements involved in hydroponic farming from tunnel construction, growth enhancements and climate conditions to seedlings, packaging and export opportunities. This expo is an excellent information source for existing and potential producers and buyers of vegetables, flowers, fruit and seedlings being hydroponically produced under protective cover, as well as for suppliers to the industry,” says Delport.

Exhibitors that have already confirmed their participation in the event include Alnet, The Coir Institute, Hygrotech, Hishtil, Pratley Marketing, Hortimex, Greenhouse Products, Haygrove, Hytech Agriculture, Shiman, Dekker Chrysanten, Hadeco, Ball Straathof, Windell Hydroponics, Knittex, Klein Karoo Saad Bemarking, Hanna Instruments, Greenhouse Technologies, Infigro Natural Technologies, SAFGA, Vegtech 2000, Koppert SA, Sakata Seed, Genius Landbou, Starke Ayres, Happyveg Trading, Elro J Braak, Dogal Kimyevi Meddeler, Agrifica, Farmer’s Weekly, ProAgri, Puricare, Spilo, ZR Auto, Machiel Buys, Fibregro, Incotec, Dutch Plantin BV, Alweco, Greener Solutions, Alliance Seeds, Cravo Equipment and Monsanto.

Delport says commercial greenhouse and hydroponic production systems are rapidly becoming one of the important solutions to resource pressures such as land, water, fertiliser and the environment, and producers need to constantly update their growing techniques and technology. “This expo and conference is a great opportunity to stay abreast of current skills and it creates a platform to learn new techniques and approaches from experts. Our exhibitors have been selected in such a manner that they will offer information to both existing and potential producers,” says Delport.

Tunnel and shade-net farming started in South Africa in 1973 and consists of three major sectors namely vegetables and fruit, flowers and seedling growers. The tunnels or multi-spans are equipped with modern technology for optimal management and production. Most farmers use hydroponics and a growth medium.
Undercover Farming Expo is the initiative of the publication Undercover Farming, which has been focusing on the intensive farming industry for ten years. The expo is supported by Intensive Agriculture South Africa (IASA), South African Flower Growers (SAFGA), Seedling Growers Association of South Africa (SAGASA), Absa AgriBusiness, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and The Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

For more information about the Undercover Farming Expo, including information for exhibitors, sponsorship opportunities and the conference, visit www.undercoverfarmingexpo.co.za or contact Johan Swiegers at +27 12 804 5854/6.