Farm Manager

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Job Description


Overview:
A 20-hectare agricultural operation in Cato Ridge focusing on high-value horticultural crops, including 2 hectares of tunnel-grown blueberries, 2 hectares of open-field tomatoes, and a honey production and pollination unit. The farm integrates modern practices, including fertigation, packhouse operations, and value-added processing. We seek 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 blueberry tunnel systems, including pruning, pest management, fertigation, harvesting, and scheduling.
  • Oversee open-field tomato cultivation, managing rotations, input programs, and labor 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.
Labor 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, labor, 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.
  • 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
  • Managing an automated fertigation systems

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Job Detail

  • Job Id
    JD1407906
  • Industry
    Not mentioned
  • Total Positions
    1
  • Job Type:
    Full Time
  • Salary:
    Not mentioned
  • Employment Status
    Permanent
  • Job Location
    Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • Education
    Not mentioned