Nature of work
Agricultural workers play a large role in getting food, plants, and other agricultural products to market. Working mostly on farms or ranches, but also in nurseries and slaughterhouses, these workers have numerous and diverse duties.A nursery worker can be responsible for:
- Inspecting plants and bud ties to assess quality.
- Moving containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.
- Operating tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest, and spray fields and plants.
- Planting, spraying, fertilizing, and watering plants, shrubs, and trees, using hand tools and gardening tools.
- Regulating greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems, bunching flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.
- Cleaning work areas, and maintaining grounds and landscaping, maintaining inventory.
- Providing information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products.
- Recording information about plants and plant growth.
He/she may also sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers, trap and destroy pests such as moles, gophers, and mice using pesticides.
Environment of work
Farm work does not lend itself to a regular 40-hour workweek. Work cannot be delayed when crops must be planted or harvested or when animals must be sheltered and fed. Long hours and weekend work is common in these jobs. Work is seasonal for farmworkers in nurseries; spring and summer are the busiest times of the year. During the busy seasons, when landscape contractors need plants, work schedules may be more demanding, often requiring weekend work. Moreover, the transition from warm weather to cold weather means that a nursery worker might have to work overtime in order to move plants indoors to protect them from frost. A farmworker who works with animals usually has a more regular schedule, his/her work is steadier and year round, but he/she sometimes must come to work on short notice to help handle emergencies. A farm worker risks exposure to pesticides and other hazardous chemicals sprayed on crops or plants. Those who work on mechanized farms must take precautions to avoid injury when working with tools and heavy equipment. Animal breeders spend most of their time outdoors around animals but can also work in offices or laboratories. Professional life
With experience and further training, a production nursery manager may decide to open his/her own production nursery or purchase an established business.Range of typical starting salaries: 35000 SYP plus potential bonuses.
Getting the job
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree. Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experience. Skills
There are many skills he/she needs to have and tries to improve, such as:- Able to perform manual and heavy lifting.
- Pro-active and responsible.
- Able to work long hours to complete tasks.
- Able to work outdoors in all sorts of weather.
- Observant and methodical.
- Excellent at project planning.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can go to the following:- Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.
Summary
A nursery worker plans, organizes, directs, controls, and coordinates activities of workers engaged in propagating, cultivating, and harvesting horticultural specialties, such as trees, shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and other plants.He/she may also sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers, trap and destroy pests such as moles, gophers, and mice using pesticides.