Agricultural Equipment Operators
Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities such as tilling soil; planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops; feeding and herding livestock; or removing animal waste.
Agricultural Equipment Operators drive and control the equipment to till soil, and plant, cultivate and harvest crops. They perform tasks such as hay bucking, husking, threshing, crop bailing etc. They load the crops, and materials to control the containers manually, or using hand trucks, mix or spray fertilizers, or pesticide solutions to control insects, weed growth etc.
The operators work and maintain the quality of the plants and crops using various agriculture equipment such as combine harvesters, roto seed drill, 2 & 4 Stroke sprayer, engine driven agricultural sprayer etc.
However, to become a successful agricultural equipment operator, one must have the ability to adjust the controls of the machine, see the details at a distance, and maintain interpersonal relationships. The candidate must have good knowledge of machines, chemicals affecting crop products, crops, seeds, and plants and how to increase productivity with a good command in English language. Proficiency in technical skills and softwares like ERP, Map Creation is a must.
The educational qualifications required for this job is a High School Diploma with work experience. Some of the career options are - Baler Operator, Cutter, Hay Baler, Packing Tractor Machine Operator.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 4 Farming
- Certificate Poultry Farming
Tasks
- Adjust, repair, and service farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
- Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Irrigate soil, using portable pipes or ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.
- Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
- Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural production, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment.
- Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
- Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
- Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
- Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
- Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.
Progression Routes
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