Business Development Manager - InteliGro
(2024-04)
Currently working as a business development manager for InteliGro, specializing in Citrus production and agricultural solutions.
Agricultural Manager - Verdant Citrus Limpopo - Weipe near Musina
(2024-04 - 2026-04)
Working as the Agricultural Manager at Verdant Citrus Limpopo. The farm was previously acquired by a new company called Verdant Orchard and operates under the name Verdant Citrus Limpopo. Role changed from Head of Production to Agricultural Manager.
- Responsible for the Integrated Pest Management program
- Interpretation of soil and leaf samples to write the nutrition program and application of both foliar and ground fertilizers
- Ordering chemicals, fertilizer, nozzles for spray machines, irrigation and pruning equipment
- Management of stock control for chemicals, fertilizers and irrigation fittings, pipes etc.
- Budget forecast and feedback for chemical and fertilizer usage for the season
- Allocation of all chemical, fertilizer and irrigation related invoices
- Orchard registration and verification with DALRRD
- Phytclean registration and management of FMS and fruit infestation for export to European Markets
- Organization of orchard inspections
- Planning and instruction of daily tasks for all drivers, scouts, pruners, sanitation, irrigation and general workers managing a total of 750+ workforce in season
- Ensuring all disciplinary procedures and protocols are followed and meet the standards of the Department of Labor
- Bush clearing, soil preparation, soil corrections, irrigation development and planting of new trees
- Evaluation of the crop and crop estimates
- Overseeing the harvest process and picking personnel
- Monitoring fruit sizing and internal quality throughout the season
- Planning of pruning strategies and management of personnel
- Planning and evaluation of the irrigation schedule with strategic monitoring
- Ensuring all pump stations and pipelines allocate water to meet irrigation schedule demand and optimal usage of irrigation water
- Strategic placement of floats in the river to ensure quality irrigation water supply
- Ensuring the right fruit get exported to the right markets by understanding global market demand
- Estimation of the minimum price for exporting fruit to ensure maximum profitability
- Allocation of capex for new projects and machinery
- Oversight of planning, coordination and performance of the Citrus packhouse
- Monitoring fruit quality from orchard to final packed product to meet export standards
- Coordination of packhouse intake capacity with volumes harvested to ensure maximum efficiency
- Liaison with group marketing team Kingfisher Fruits regarding packing programmes, orders, expected volumes and delivery requirements with weekly marketing meetings
- Implementation of a system of quality control, grading standards and traceability procedures
- Liaison with packhouse manager to ensure effective control and management of consumables
- Ensuring compliance with food safety standards, hygiene regulations and all other audit requirements
- Coordination of maintenance planning to ensure minimum breakdowns
- Analysis of packhouse reports to assist with production related decisions and improvements
- Support of continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and fruit quality while optimizing production
Head of Production - Noordgrens Landgoed - Weipe near Musina
(2017-12 - 2024-04)
Working as the Head of Production at Noordgrens Landgoed. The farm consists of 810ha Citrus of which 580ha are bearing trees and 230ha are non-bearing.
- Responsible for the Integrated Pest Management program
- Planning and application of both foliar and ground fertilizers
- Ordering of chemicals, fertilizer, nozzles for spray machines, irrigation and pruning equipment
- Management of stock control for chemicals, fertilizers and irrigation fittings, pipes etc.
- Budget forecast and feedback for chemical and fertilizer usage for the season
- Allocation of all chemical, fertilizer and irrigation related invoices
- Orchard registration and verification with DALRRD
- Phytclean registration and management of FMS and fruit infestation for export to European Markets
- Organization of orchard inspections
- Planning and instruction of daily tasks for all drivers, scouts, pruners, sanitation, irrigation and general workers
- Ensuring all disciplinary procedures and protocols are followed and meet the standards of the Department of Labour
- Bush clearing, soil preparation, irrigation development and planting of new trees
- Evaluation of the crop and crop estimates
- Overseeing the harvest process and picking personnel
- Monitoring fruit sizing and internal quality throughout the season to ensure the right orchards are being harvested
- Planning of pruning strategies and management of personnel
- Planning and evaluation of the irrigation schedule
- Ensuring all pump stations and pipelines allocate water to meet irrigation schedule demand
- Strategic placement of floats in the river to ensure quality irrigation water supply
Junior Farm Manager - BONAIRE FARMING OPERATIONS
(2016-01 - 2017-12)
Worked as a Junior Farm Manager on a 690ha citrus farm of which 240 hectares were under direct management.
- Management of permanent employees on production unit
- Management of pickers
- Management of pruners
- Allocation of drivers on the farm (tractors, trucks and forklifts)
- Maintenance of 17 boreholes
- Irrigation program and scheduling of all orchards on 240ha unit
- Management of the dam and allocation of water for irrigation
- Monitoring of water quality
- Installation of new pipelines and maintenance of existing lines
- Organisation of transport of fruit from the farm to pack house
- Ordering of bins for harvest
- Ordering of any equipment needed on the farm
- Setting the crop
- Doing crop estimates
- Harvesting of fruit
