Mpumalanga Show 2025 Focuses on Boosting Small-Scale Vegetable Farmers

Now in its eighth year, the Mpumalanga Show 2025 highlighted efforts to support the province’s small-scale vegetable farmers. The event placed special emphasis on preparing farmers to supply the nearly completed Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market.

The market was designed to offer a trading platform for local small-scale farmers, but critics have pointed out that few farmers currently meet the supply requirements. To address this, the show conducted a year-long roadshow to map out the number of small-scale vegetable farmers in the province, assess their production capacity, and educate them on how the market would function.

Lyzelle van Wyk, manager of the Mpumalanga Show, said the roadshow revealed a larger-than-expected number of farmers, many operating on a significant scale. “These farmers were invited to the show and received training from AgricultSURE on improving production, safe handling of agricultural chemicals, and marketing,” she explained.

The goal is to equip all small-scale farmers in the province to supply the market consistently, improving food availability and creating sustainable business opportunities.

Beyond vegetable farming, the show featured a livestock exhibition, including various breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses, as well as fancy pigeons and show chickens. Agricultural machinery and technology were also a major focus, allowing farmers to explore the latest tools and innovations in the sector.

Van Wyk noted that, as the only agricultural show of this scale in the province, the Mpumalanga Show has become a key hub for suppliers to present products and for farmers to access the latest industry developments. The event continues to strengthen farmer capacity, improve market readiness, and support the province’s agricultural growth.