Head of Crop Protection - VEG at AAA Growers

Key responsibilities:

• To keep all pests of concern in the farm below threshold and ensure maximum harvestable crop with below threshold pest level at Packhouse intake.

OVERAL DUTIES

• To implement chemical crop protection activities for the farm or assigned area.
• To plan weekly spray programs for all crops in consultation with the Production Manager.
• To obtain, follow and update IRAC and FRAC guidelines on use of pesticides.
• To ascertain and supervise the use of only registered chemicals for each crop grown.
• To eliminate chemical residue detection by observance of PHI and reduction of tank mixed active ingredients.
• To ensure integrity of the spray equipment through regular calibrations (minimum monthly).
• To ensure the spray equipment is always in a serviceable state and to follow up on any repairs that may be needed.
• To implement various IPM approaches that help in better pest control, reducing the cost of controls and dependence on synthetic chemicals.
• Continuous supervision and training of the crop protection teams for optimum results and safety of the spray team.
• To carry out any other duties as instructed by the farm manager from time to time.
• Maintenance of spray machinery and equipment
• To maintain spray machinery, equipment, and the Personal Protective Equipment in good working condition by frequent checks, cleaning, calibration, and servicing.
• Handling of crop protection products
• Control all handling, mixing, and transporting of chemicals and disposal of chemical product packaging empties generated within the farm.

Staff

• To ensure that all staff in the team have signed in and out.
• To allocate daily work targets to staff and record performance of all team members
• To maintain staff discipline and welfare in accordance with the company policy.
• Ensuring the number of staff in the books tally with physical count in your department.

Record Keeping

• To keep accurate records of all chemical applications done, equipment checks, flushing and cleaning of spray equipment’s in the farm in formats provided.

Health and Safety

• To maintain the standard measures of the health and safety among the staff and order all requisite PPE for the spray dept.
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the immediate manager or senior management.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Ability to plan for sprays for different crop growth stages and generate a weekly spray plan.
• Keeping up to date with new trends and products for crop protection
• An understanding of PPPL’s for the various crops under production
• A very good appreciation of pest threshold levels and their effect on final quality and production
• Carrying out efficacy tests periodically.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

• The tools and equipment to enable you to fulfil your role objectives shall be made available as and when required. This shall be upon being assigned a task that require a particular set of tools or by you asking for certain tools pursuant to accomplishing a particular task