Hydroponics Grower
Responsible for growing bell peppers and tomatoes under Hydroponics
Expected Capabilities
- Ability to identify between diseases, phytotoxicity, nutrient deficiency, nematode damage.
- Be able to name the diseases common to our area and the crops we grow in the shade house.
- Ability to find valid, accepted, scientific information sources to correctly identify specific plant diseases.
- Ability to correctly identify insect pests common to our area. General idea of difference between sucking insects and feeding insects.
- Ability to correctly identify mites and the damage they do as opposed to a virus.
- General knowledge of and ability to plan for controlling disease and pests with multiple methods.
- Problem Solving – observational talent to see problems, old as well as new, preferably before they go to significant economic damage.
- Make a plan for growing a specific product - variety selection, plant nutrition program, plant protection program, schedule of operations. Selection and sourcing of inputs. Capital equipment selection if needed.
- High level of curiosity – proactively does his own research, keeps up with the latest news from suppliers and publications as to what is new in crop protection, plant nutrition, irrigation, fertigation, equipment.
- Labour management and ability to work with a multi-cultural work force.
Irrigation and Fertigation Management
- Calculate flows per hectare.
- Manage pumps and pump heads.
- Ability to do ET calculations – reference (ETr) and (Etc) for crop stage. Correctly calculate from Etc for example how much time between irrigations so as not to run out of available water.
- Calculate irrigation time and flow from our irrigation system to meet the ET.
- Calculate the correct amount of N, P, and K using PPM standards developed here, the amount of standard fertilizers we need to apply to reach those levels.
- Do irrigation designs, demonstrating from standard charts pipe sizes appropriate to the flow required for the area and using friction loss charts.
Required Qualification, experience, and Skills:
- Masters/Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture
- Should possess a min of5 years of experience in a hydroponics project of repute.
- Proficiency with computers, especially MS Office, Power Point, and diagnostic scientific software.
- Exceptional active listening and verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong research, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Awareness of industry trends, technology, and developments.