Description

The following position has become available for a General Worker at our Research Farm in Oudtshoorn. The job involves the essential tasks of preparing, managing, and maintaining the various stages of plant cultivation, from seed sowing and seedling management to transplanting, emasculation, crossing, harvesting, seed processing, greenhouse cleaning, trial harvesting, and other related activities, ensuring the successful growth and development of plants for seed production.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Seed counting and packaging
• Soaking, washing and drying seedling trays
• Preparing seedling mix for seedling tray filling
• Tray filling with seedling mix
• Sowing according to the sowing list
• Moving seedling trays from germ room to seedling house after 72 hours of sowing and putting in order
• Preparing seedling mix for planting pots
• Filling of planting pots with seedling mix
• Moving in filled pots and arranging them in the greenhouses
• Connecting drippers to the pots
• Identifying flowers that are at the right stage on the female plants and undertaking emasculation following the crossing book provided by the breeder
• Harvesting crossed fruits according to the crossing book
• Harvesting self-pollinated fruits from selected plants by the breeder
• Extracting seed from harvested fruits
• Removal of plant materials from the greenhouses and loading
• Removal of pots from the greenhouses and loading

REQUIREMENTS:

• Grade 12 (essential)
• Experience in the agricultural industry is advantageous
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel, and techniques that require fine motor skills and repetitive motions. 
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 kg’s at least.
• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The individual will be required to work in an open-air environment directly exposed to weather conditions.