Helgard Smit

Experienced Nursery and Farm Manager and Farmer 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 establishing citrus orchards.

Thorough knowledge of nutrient deficiency identification and correction in a variety of crops, with the ability to accurately detect and diagnose plant diseases. Extensive knowledge and experience in insect pest management across a variety of crops, including citrus, mangoes, olives, avocados, and vegetables.

Nursery Manager - West Coast Fruit Tree Nursery

(2022-01 - 2026-12)

• Led 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 Osmosis plant 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 and propagation.
• 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 Manager - Capespan Farms / Grootpatrysvlei Nursery

(2017-01 - 2021-12)

• Achieved and maintained a 4 star CRI nursery rating.
• Erect all Nethouses and tunnels install computerised irrigation and fertigation.
• Installed drip irrigation systems and implement irrigation scheduling.
• Improve fertigation system and install DFM probes.
• Visits clients weekly for support and get a good client base.
• Develop good soil media for planting and fine tune fertigation.

Nursery Manager - Namakwaland Sitrus Kwekery

(2012-01 - 2016-12)

• Managed 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 nursery.
• Farmer days and other marketing methods to get more clients.

Farmer and Business Owner - Favorites Sweet Pepper Chutney

(1993-01 - 2007-12)

Citrus-, Vegetables- and sheep farming.

• Green pepper farming
• Chutney processing factory
• Chutney marketing and sales

Farmer - Weltevrede

(2008-01 - 2011-12)

Citrus-, Vegetables- and sheep farming.

• Green pepper farming
• Melons, Watermelons, Pumpkins, Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Citrus & Nursery Management - Lowveld College of Agriculture (1991-01 - 1992-12)

Irrigation Management - Lowveld College of Agriculture (1991-01 - 1992-12)

Hydroponics Prof Gert Venter - Lowveld College of Agriculture (1991-01 - 1992-12)

National Senior Certificate - Citrusdal High School (1977-01 - 1988-12)