Octavia Avesca Spandiel
Octavia Avesca Spandiel is a multimedia journalism honours graduate from Stellenbosch University. She is based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, and her passion is to focus attention on the unsung heroes in agriculture. She has a rich background in youth work and loves connecting with people, combining her skills and interests to make a meaningful impact in her field.
BATSA to close Heidelberg plant, citing rise in illicit tobacco trade
British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) has announced it will close its manufacturing facility in Heidelberg, Gauteng, by the end of 2026, citing the rising illicit trade that has eroded the legal tobacco market and made continued local production unfeasible.
Brahman: a legacy of adaptability and strength in South Africa
Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to Wayne Porter, former president of the Brahman Breeders’ Society of South Africa, about the history of Brahman cattle in the country and their role in commercial and communal farming.
Eastern Cape steps up FMD containment campaign
The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture (the department) has intensified its efforts to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), with Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe launching a province-wide awareness and compliance campaign targeting farmers in rural communities.
Sound advice from a fourth-generation sugar cane grower
Sugar cane farmer Pratish Sharma shares his practical insights with Octavia Avesca Spandiel on aspects like soil health, pests, irrigation, harvesting, and industry rules, offering useful guidance for anyone entering South Africa’s highly regulated sugar industry.
Farmers could see cash flow relief if diesel prices fall
South African farmers are set to receive modest but welcome cost relief in January 2026, as a projected diesel price cut eases pressure during peak operations, particularly harvesting and land preparation.
Kleiheuwel Trust sets national superfine wool record at 14,1 microns
Kleiheuwel Trust, a 4 700ha mixed farming operation in the Western Cape, achieved a record R306/kg for 14,1-micron Merino wool at the BKB Live Wool Auction on 3 December in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, despite three years of climatic shocks.
Poisonous shrub behind sudden livestock deaths
Farmers across South Africa’s Highveld region are being urged to look out for a fast-spreading poisonous shrub called Cestrum parqui, which has already caused cattle deaths in several areas.
Focus on Angora fibre quality, goat health at Murraysburg Farmers’ Day
Greater emphasis on improving Angora fibre quality, strengthening flock management, and sharing up-to-date goat health information shaped the Murraysburg Farmers’ Day, held on 2 December on Kruidfontein Farm in the Western Cape.
Agriculture sees Q3 growth, despite sector pressures
South African agriculture posted a surprisingly strong third-quarter performance in 2025, rebounding from two years of contraction. Economists note that, although growth came off a low base, the recovery still represents a meaningful shift for the sector.
Chris Hani agri show reconnects smallholder farmers to markets
The revived Chris Hani Agricultural Show in the Eastern Cape has renewed efforts to integrate smallholder farmers into formal value chains, with the provincial government and development agencies identifying new market opportunities, infrastructure needs, and potential pathways for commercialisation.
Boran cattle drive productivity on Free State farm
Quentin de Bruyn, who farms cattle in the eastern Free State, has spent over 15 years refining his beef production system around the Boran. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Boran’s resilience, fertility, and low input needs are reshaping commercial beef production in South Africa.
RMIS funds nine new research projects preparing the industry for 2030
Red Meat Industry Services approved and funded nine new research projects in 2025. Announced on 26 October in Pretoria, they form part of the organisation’s Field to Future framework, which ensures research priorities address real challenges across the industry.
A practical guide to managing pigs through the phases
Dr Dorothea Mostert, veterinarian at CSVet, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies for managing pigs from weaning to finisher phases, highlighting nutrition, environment, and welfare as key drivers of efficiency and profitability.
The Dorper: a home-grown meat sheep
The Dorper breed is valued for its adaptability, fertility, and meat quality. Eastern Cape farmer Shane Scorgie spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about why this South African success story is thriving worldwide.
Nqanqarhu vegetable farmers celebrate new water infrastructure
Farmers in the small Eastern Cape town of Nqanqarhu have received a welcome major boost to their vegetable production following the delivery of vital water infrastructure and agricultural inputs by the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture.
Blending indigenous farming with innovative business techniques
Seniren Naidoo, who farms in Upper Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, has merged ancestral wisdom with modern business acumen to build a thriving agricultural enterprise. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about his operation, which is rooted in indigenous crops, sustainability, and innovation.
SA boosts fight against Goss’s wilt ahead of 2025/26 maize season
Goss’s wilt, caused by the bacterium Clavibacter nebraskensis, was first identified in the US in 1969 and has since spread to Southern Africa, prompting action by farmers, scientists, and policymakers.
SA’s top mohair producers honoured at Daidoh awards
The Daidoh Summer Kid Mohair Awards, hosted by Mohair South Africa on 12 October at the Botanics in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, welcomed over 220 guests from across the mohair value chain, including farmers, brokers, and international partners.
Mpumalanga sugar industry acts against huge surge in imports
Sugar imports into South Africa surged by more than 400% between January and August 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, affecting local sales and rural livelihoods.
Emerging farmer opportunities in the spotlight at Agri 5 Expo KZN
The Agri 5 Expo in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, showcased opportunities for small-scale and emerging farmers through access to technology, information, and financial services.
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