RESPONSIBILTIES
General Maintenance:
- Ensure hygiene, appearance, and tidiness around all tunnel structures, including roads, lawns, and fences.
Collaboration with Breeders:
- Work closely with breeders to determine ideal growing conditions for optimum pollination and seed production.
- Manipulate plants to meet breeding requirements and screen conditions representative of commercial practices.
Climate Control:
Program and adjust seasonal and daily settings for:
- Day length
- Cooling
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Radiation
Monitoring and Maintenance:
Monitor, maintain, and service:
- Greenhouse structures
- Pump room and fertigation systems
- Wet walls
- Fresh water supply
- Spraying equipment
- Heating equipment (Boiler)
- Weather station (with long-term record keeping)
Plant Health Monitoring:
Monitor general plant appearance throughout the day and apply corrective measures for:
- Wilting/heat stress
- Nutritional abnormalities
- Chemical burns
- Physiological abnormalities
- Physical damage
Fertigation Management:
- Program fertigation systems based on commercial fertilizer recommendations.
- Consult with fertilizer/nutrition experts monthly to prevent and address potential problems.
- Monitor EC, pH, and run-off figures daily, with appropriate record keeping and reporting.
- Adjust fertigation programs after consultation with breeders and fertilizer experts.
- Identify and solve nutritional deficiencies/toxicities.
- Recommend adjustments in growing medium composition.
- Take leaf samples, interpret analysis with nutritional experts, and adjust fertigation programs accordingly.
Pest and Disease Control:
- Sanitize and disinfect facilities daily/seasonally.
- Ensure availability and correct application of sanitizers, gloves, boots, and coats to prevent disease spread.
- Scout for pests and diseases daily.
- Recommend spraying programs after consultation with internal and external experts.
- Monitor the efficiency of spray recommendations and make necessary adjustments.
Staff Supervision:
Hire and manage staff/labor, including:
- Assigning work schedules
- Spraying responsibilities
- Pump room and fertigation activities
- General greenhouse activities
- Health and safety protocols, especially regarding hazardous chemicals
- Train staff on the above responsibilities.
Administrative Duties:
- Compile the greenhouse budget in collaboration with the operations manager.
Order supplies, including:
- Chemicals
- Fertilizers
- Planting bags
- Growing mediums
Technology and Industry Engagement:
Stay updated with the latest technology by:
- Interacting with other professionals in the industry
- Attending local industry meetings (e.g., seedling growers association)
- Attending appropriate courses
Plant Management:
Take full responsibility for plantings owned by off-station breeders and marketing, including:
- Sowing and growing seedlings
- Transplanting
- Pruning and trellising
- Harvesting
- Record keeping
- Cleaning out obsolete plants and materials
Weekend and Holiday Monitoring:
- Continue monitoring over weekends and public holidays, resulting in regular overtime.
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications:
- Grade 12 (Essential)
- Diploma in Agriculture (Preferential) NQF L6
Experience:
- Irrigation scheduling course (Ideal)
- Mechanical and Technical experience (e.g. Fixing a pump)
- Extensive knowledge about farming and day-to-day vegetable crop operations
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