Farm Foreman/Manager

Job overview
Farm foremen/ managers play an important part in the daily maintenance of the farm.

Each farming unit must be seen as a business enterprise.

Good management is necessary to ensure profitable production.

What do people do in this job?
Farm foremen/managers are responsible for the general maintenance and management of the farm.

Their work is mainly of a supervisory nature and they plan and organize the activities on the farm.

Farm foremen/managers should also be able to do the practical work on the farm, so that they can give guidance and advice to the farm workers.

The practical work on the farm varies according to the type of farming.

On a crop farm the farm foremen/managers must supervise the fertilization programme and the preparation of the farmlands before the crops can be planted.

After the cropping the products are processed, sorted and packed. ?It is the responsibility of the farm foremen/managers to ensure that these tasks are performed correctly.

On a livestock farm, foremen/managers supervise the care of the animals and the control of illnesses.

Vehicles, such as tractors and other farming implements, must be maintained and farm foremen/managers ensure that the farm workers know how to use them correctly.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Leadership and the ability to maintain good relationships with people are important.

Farm foremen/managers must be able to work independently and make decisions.

They must have a strong sense of responsibility.

What qualifications are needed?
There are no specific paper qualifications.

In Zimbabwe there are agricultural colleges.