The Crop Protection Manager at Simba Farm will be responsible for overseeing and executing comprehensive crop protection strategies for all crops on the farm, focusing particularly on commercial vegetable farming within a horticulture environment. This role involves planning weekly spray programs, implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, ensuring the safety and maintenance of spray equipment, and managing the crop protection team.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Plan weekly spray programs for all crops in consultation with the Farm Manager.
- Maintain high standards of spraying by ensuring proper spray coverage, use of correct spray volumes, and zero loss or spillage of chemicals.
- Ensure transportation and disposal of chemical product residuals within the farm are well handled.
- Develop and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to protect various crops.
- Monitor crops for identification of major pest and disease challenges at the farm.
- Ensure the spray equipment is always in a serviceable state so that they are well maintained in order to have a smooth spray operation.
- Participate, coordinate, and manage all activities that fall in the domain of the spray department.
- Prepare and submit monthly reports to the Farm Manager.
- Continuous supervision and training of the crop protection team for optimum results and safety of the spray team.
- Monitor, in collaboration with the greenhouse management team, the spray areas in the greenhouses if infestation is controlled.
- Report without delay to the Farm Manager when encountering a problem in relation to spraying activities.
- Prepare annual chemical and PPE requirements of the department at the start of the new budget year.
Profile and Qualifications
Candidates should possess the following qualifications and attributes:
- Education: Degree or Diploma in Agriculture, Crop Protection, Agronomy, or a related field.
- Experience: Over 5 years in a similar role within a commercial vegetable farming environment.
- Track Record: Proven track record in crop protection or pest management within horticulture farms, preferably in the Veg section.
- Professional Knowledge: Familiarity with pesticide regulations, safety protocols, and environmental stewardship principles.
- Competencies: Self-motivated, strategic thinker with excellent crisis management skills, and able to bring solutions to the table.
- Management Skills: Strong administration, site management, and people management skills with proven delivery on targets within a strict timeframe.
- Communication: Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic and diverse agricultural environment, coupled with strong report writing skills.
