Helgard Smit

Experienced Nursery and Farm Manager with more than 28+ years experience in citrus production , nursery management and commercial farming. Track record in achieving a 5 star Cri nursery rating. Establish modern nethouse structures , irrigation and heating systems in tunnels.

Lead teams to meet production deadlines and quality standards. Motivating teams to best nursery practises constantly and do quality control in the production on all aspects like planting , pruning and training of plants. Additional experience with mixed farming , includes sheep livestock management , vegetable production and estabishing citrus orchards.

Nursery ManagerWest Coast Fruit Tree Nursery2022-2026Led nursery operations to achieved a 5 star CRi nursery, starting from scratch, within 4 years.Installed modern irrigation systems and heating systems and helped to bring in a Reverse Osmosisplant to lower EC and clean water from harmful pathogens.Build the nursery structures all from scratch and installed irrigation schemes.Improved management systems to increase productivity like fertigation and heating pumps.Supervise pest & disease control programs and perform bi- annual CRI inspections.Stock management of trees and materials.Grow Mango, Grape and Olive trees and do all production processes, including grafting andpropagation.Admin, marketing, stock control and sales as well as loading out of trees.Train all workers from scratch in all aspects of nursery tasks.Nursery ManagerCapespan Farms / Grootpatrysvlei Nursery2017-2021Achieved and maintained a 4 star CRI nursery rating.Erect all Nethouses and tunnels install computerised irrigation and fertigation.Installed drip irrigation systems and implement irigation scheduling.Improve fertigation system and install DFM probes.Visits clients weekly for support and get a good cliënt base.Develop good soil media for planting and fine tune fertigation.Nursery ManagerNamakwaland Sitrus Kwekery2012-2016Managed nursery operations and achieved a 4 star CRi nursery rating.Learned the basic skills and get systems in place for a Cri Nursery.Improved management systems and held farmer days and do marketing.Managed pest & disease control and stock management system.Trained employees in the basic principles of a CRI citrus nurseryFarmer days and other marketing methods to get more cliënts.Farmer and Business Owner:Favorites Sweet Pepper Churney1993-2007Citrus-, Vegetables- and sheep farming.Farmer:Weltevrede2008-2011Green pepper farmingChutney processing factoryChutney marketing and salesNursery ManagerVegetables:Melons, Watermelons, Pumkins,Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Lowveld College of Agriculture1991 - 1992Citrus & Nursery Management Irrigation Management Hydroponics Prof Gert VenterHoërskool Citrusdal1977 - 1988 National Senior Certificate