Job at a glance
Overview A 20-hectare agricultural operation in Cato Ridge focusing on high-value crops. Our client is looking for a hands-on, strategic Farm Manager to oversee all aspects of production, labour, infrastructure, and compliance, ensuring efficient and profitable operations. Key Responsibilities Crop Production Management Plan and manage the tunnel systems, including pruning, pest management, fertigation, harvesting, and scheduling.
Oversee open-field cultivation, managing rotations, input programs, and labour cycles. Ensure optimal use of fertilizer and irrigation systems (including drip irrigation and fertigation tanks). Honey & Pollination Manage the integration of beehives for pollination and honey production. Oversee honey harvesting, processing, and bottling in a hygienic and compliant manner. Explore potential pollination services for other farms.
Packhouse & Post-Harvest Oversight Supervise the packhouse (18m x 30m): from receiving to grading, cold storage, dispatch, and traceability. Ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene protocols in packing, processing, and storage. Manage value-added product lines (e.g., jams, juices, sundried tomatoes). Infrastructure & Equipment Coordinate maintenance of irrigation pumps, packhouse machinery, cold room (10m x 6m), and farm vehicles.
Oversee daily use of tractors, electric carts, and tools within tunnels and fields. Water & Environmental Management Operate within the Water Use License conditions and manage inline dam storage (including 3rd dam once approved). Monitor borehole use, irrigation scheduling, and water efficiency across crops. Labour Management Recruit, supervise, and train permanent and seasonal farm workers. Maintain productivity, task delegation, and compliance with 200-day labour cycles.
Foster a safe and positive working environment. Record Keeping & Reporting Keep daily, weekly, and monthly records on yield, input use, labour, and sales. Work closely with the owner on budget tracking (R10 million budget), timelines, and compliance. Qualifications & Experience Degree/Diploma in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness, or related field. Minimum 10 years of farm management experience, ideally with high-value crops.
Strong understanding of tunnel farming, fertigation, irrigation systems, and cold chain logistics. Knowledge of value-added processing, honey production, or small-scale agri-processing is a plus. Experience managing packhouse and export processes (especially blueberries) is an advantage. Key Skills Excellent organizational and leadership skills Problem-solving and adaptive thinking Understanding of farm budgets and input planning Proficiency in basic tech (Excel, farm software, WhatsApp, drone apps a plus) Communication and people management Experience managing automated fertigation systems