Lindi Botha
Lindi Botha is an agricultural journalist and communications specialist based in Nelspruit, South Africa. She has spent over a decade reporting on food production and has a special interest in research, new innovations and technology that aid farmers in increasing their margins, while reducing their environmental footprint. She has garnered numerous awards during her career, including The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize in 2019, the IFAJ-Alltech International Award for Leadership in Agricultural Journalism in 2020, and several South African awards for her writing.
Blueberry season in SA: bumper north, uncertain Western Cape
Blueberry season is off to a good start in South Africa’s northern production regions, with growers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West expecting good returns from strong yields, high-quality fruit, and favourable export prices. In the Western Cape, however, the outlook is less certain.
More than space: designing pig housing systems for the future
As South Africa’s pig industry prepares for the transition away from gestation crates, producers will need to rethink far more than floor space. Research shows that the success of group housing depends on how housing design, feeding systems, ventilation, stocking density and day-to-day management work together to support both welfare and productivity.
Keeping the fruit industry’s collective voice strong
For Fruit South Africa CEO Fhumulani Ratshitanga, leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about listening carefully enough to bring different voices together. She spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about the experiences that’ve shaped her leadership, and why trust is the foundation of progress.
Demand-led logistics could cut potato market inefficiencies
Better demand planning, greater transport visibility, and fewer intermediaries could reduce costs and inefficiencies in South Africa’s potato value chain, panellists said at the Potatoes SA Congress, held in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 22 and 23 July.
Potato industry urged to win over younger, online consumers
South Africa’s potato industry needs to adapt its marketing, pricing, and product offering if it wants to remain relevant to younger, time-poor, and increasingly value-conscious consumers.
Preparation and excellence take centre stage at PSA Congress
South Africa's potato industry gathered in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 July for the Potatoes SA (PSA) Congress, where producers, researchers, and stakeholders discussed key issues affecting the industry. Gala functions held on both evenings recognised outstanding achievements with the annual PSA awards.
Technology can’t replace farmer judgement
Technology can sharpen decision-making on farms, but it can’t replace the experience, judgement, and practical knowledge of farmers and their teams, panellists said at the Potatoes SA congress held in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 22 and 23 July.
Buying a drone? Focus on the specs that matter
Choosing an agricultural drone is about more than buying the fastest machine or the biggest tank. Matching a drone’s specifications to your farming operation can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maximise returns. AgTech@NWK’s Zane Barnard explains what farmers should consider before buying.
Biologicals no longer a niche as pest pressures grow
Biological crop protection products are gaining ground as pest resistance mounts, export markets tighten residue requirements, and climate change reshapes pest pressure. The sector appears to have reached a turning point as multinational crop protection companies are increasingly investing in biological solutions alongside conventional chemistry.
Balancing regeneration and profitability in the Midlands
Set against the serene backdrop of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Bramleigh Farm combines regenerative agriculture with a carefully planned commercial strategy. Owner Andre Kauerauf spoke to Farmer's Weekly about building a profitable farming business through regenerative agriculture, diversification, and direct marketing.
Increasing export volumes of fruit requires strategic, segmented marketing
South Africa’s horticultural success has presented the industry with a conundrum, as the ever-increasing volumes of fruit require more specialised marketing campaigns to lift demand for these commodities.
Mid-sized farms can hold their own if managed with precision
Consolidation in agriculture is undeniable, but success is not reserved for the biggest players. Increasingly, it is the most efficient and well-managed farms that are enduring.
Pork producers rebuild after disease setbacks
As African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks have slowed significantly, pork producers are rebuilding their herds, and healthy margins have returned. But, while the disease crisis has eased, rising imports and the prospect of higher feed costs are emerging as the industry’s next major challenges.
Electricity prices replace load-shedding as farming’s biggest threat
Load-shedding may have ended more than two years ago, but South African farmers remain trapped in an electricity crisis. With soaring tariffs, deteriorating distribution infrastructure, and policies that discourage independent power generation, the cost and reliability of electricity have emerged as growing threats to agricultural profitability, food security, and export competitiveness.
Producing quality beef on natural, rented veld
Running 250 cattle on 90ha of land, producing farm-to-fork grass-fed beef without any feed supplementation, is a remarkable feat, especially when the land is rented and requires building soil health from scratch. Lindi Botha visited Balgowan Beef Company in KwaZulu-Natal to learn how it’s done.
Macadamia nut borer: winning the battle before it starts
Macadamia nut borer damage is increasing across farms in Southern Africa. Effective management starts long before symptoms become visible. Understanding the pest’s life cycle, monitoring damage and acting early can make the difference between manageable losses and costly infestations.
Egon Zunckel: a lifetime of learning from the soil
The Zunckel name is synonymous with no-till farming in South Africa. Egon Zunckel, a pioneer in the field and a passionate advocate for soil health, shared with Lindi Botha the lessons he has learnt over the years about building resilient soils and sustainable farming systems.
Court rules farmers’ market funds aren’t municipal money
Farmers and market agents scored a significant legal victory after the North West High Court dismissed the City of Matlosana’s application to appeal an earlier ruling that stripped it of control over funds generated by the Matlosana National Fresh Produce Market in Klerksdorp.
Diversity and direct marketing drive a small farm’s success
On a small piece of land in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, Alan and Belinda Stewart have built a diversified enterprise that produces vegetables, eggs, and cheese, taking their harvest directly to customers through a farmer’s market and home deliveries. Their journey offers lessons in diversification and building demand, proving that even a modest footprint can yield a sustainable livelihood.
Bio360 Africa highlights trust and data as key to scaling biochar uptake
Farmers will not gamble on unfamiliar inputs without proof. During a panel discussion at the Bio360 Africa expo and conference, industry stakeholders agreed that trust, data, and collaboration will determine whether biochar moves from a niche product to a mainstream soil solution.
