Farm Manager / Agronomist

Location: Obafemi Owode, Ogun State, Nigeria

Specialization: Habanero and Bell Pepper Cultivation

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced, results-driven Farm Manager to oversee the cultivation and production of habanero and bell peppers in both greenhouse and open-field farming systems.

The ideal candidate must possess strong technical expertise in pepper production, pest and disease management, crop nutrition, irrigation, workforce supervision, and farm operations.

The successful candidate must demonstrate excellent leadership, strong conflict-resolution skills, sound decision-making, and the ability to maximize crop productivity while maintaining high operational standards.

Key Responsibilities

Farm Operations & Crop Production

• Oversee daily greenhouse and open-field farming operations, from nursery management and transplanting to harvesting.
• Develop and implement crop production schedules to achieve optimal growth, yield, and quality.
• Manage irrigation, fertigation, fertilizer application, pruning, staking, and other agronomic activities.
• Monitor crop performance, identify growth challenges, and implement corrective measures.
• Ensure efficient utilization of farm inputs, equipment, and labour.

Pest & Disease Management

• Demonstrate extensive practical knowledge of pests and diseases affecting habanero and bell peppers.
• Identify, diagnose, and manage fungal, bacterial, viral, and soil-borne diseases.
• Develop and implement effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes.
• Supervise pesticide and fungicide applications, ensuring correct dosage, timing, safety, and compliance with product labels.
• Establish preventive biosecurity measures to minimize disease outbreaks and cross-contamination.
• Monitor pest populations, disease incidence, and treatment effectiveness through regular scouting and recordkeeping.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate farm supervisors, fieldworkers, and other agricultural personnel.
• Assign daily tasks, establish performance targets, and monitor productivity.
• Demonstrate strong conflict-management skills and resolve workplace disputes professionally and fairly.
• Maintain discipline, teamwork, accountability, and a productive working environment.
• Train farmworkers on proper agricultural practices, safety procedures, and operational standards.
• Communicate effectively with management and provide timely operational updates.

Farm Planning, Reporting & Performance

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly farm operational reports.
• Monitor plant health, mortality rates, flowering, fruit setting, harvest volumes, and overall crop yield.
• Maintain accurate records of pesticide applications, fertilizer usage, labour productivity, and farm expenses.
• Develop strategies to improve yield per plant, reduce crop losses, and optimize production costs.
• Identify operational risks and implement practical solutions.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor\'s degree or HND in Agronomy, Crop Science, Agriculture, Horticulture, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of practical farm management experience, preferably in commercial pepper production.
• Proven experience managing both greenhouse and open-field cultivation systems.
• Strong technical knowledge of habanero and bell pepper production.
• Extensive experience in pest identification, disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
• Sound understanding of irrigation, fertigation, soil management, and plant nutrition.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing agricultural teams.
• Excellent conflict-resolution, interpersonal, and people-management skills.
• Strong planning, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple farm operations simultaneously.
• Proficiency in agricultural recordkeeping, reporting, and basic computer applications.

Key Performance Expectations

The successful candidate will be evaluated based on:

• Crop health, survival rates, and disease prevention.
• Yield performance and quality of harvested peppers.
• Effectiveness of pest and disease management programmes.
• Labour productivity and operational efficiency.
• Workforce discipline, teamwork, and conflict resolution.
• Accuracy and timeliness of farm reports.
• Cost control and efficient resource management.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV detailing relevant agricultural experience, particularly in greenhouse and open-field pepper production.

Important: Applicants must have demonstrable hands-on experience managing commercial pepper farms. Candidates with only theoretical agricultural knowledge or experience limited to general farm supervision may not be considered.