SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Farm Laborer
  • Farmer
  • Field Irrigation Worker
  • Gardener
  • Greenhouse Worker
  • Grower
  • Harvester
  • Nursery Worker
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What is a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse?

Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse are individuals involved in various agricultural activities that contribute to the cultivation and harvesting of crops, as well as the production and maintenance of plants in nurseries and greenhouses. These workers perform a variety of tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and harvesting crops, as well as potting, transplanting, and caring for plants in controlled environments like greenhouses. They may work with a range of crops including vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants, depending on the type of farm or nursery they are employed at. This career path is essential for ensuring food supply and maintaining the health of plants, and it often requires knowledge of different plant species, growth cycles, and the use of farming equipment. Farmworkers and laborers typically work outdoors in various weather conditions and may engage in physically demanding tasks that require endurance and strength.

What the work actually is

  • Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.
  • Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.
  • Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.
  • Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
  • Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

  • Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Extent Flexibility The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Bachelor's degree

A normal week

  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Getting Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Electronic mail software IBM Lotus Notes · Microsoft Outlook
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Data base user interface and query software BCL Landview Systems WinCrop · Farm Works Software Trac
  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Mobile location based services software Global positioning system GPS software

Tools

  • Secateurs or pruning shears Grass shears · Loppers · Root pruning scissors
  • Utility knives Bench grafting knives · Budding knives · Pruning knives
  • Greenhouse ventilation equipment Carbon dioxide systems · Greenhouse ventilation systems · Humidifiers
  • Broadcast spreaders Garden hand seeders · Mulch spreaders · Rotary spreaders
  • Saws Arborist saws · Bow saws · Compass saws

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much does a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse earn in South Africa?

Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What is a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse?

Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs, Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting and Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.