Research and Management
Matshego Reginah Motupa
Agricultural Advisor
Sovenga
Summary
Experienced with advanced agricultural techniques and sustainable farming practices. Utilizes effective pest control methods and resource management strategies. Knowledge of soil health improvement and crop yield enhancement.
Developed skills in agricultural environment, contributing to successful farming operations and sustainable practices. Proficient in crop management and soil analysis, with focus on data-driven decision-making. Seeking to transition into new field where these skills can be applied and further developed.
Offering solid foundation in agricultural principles and keen interest in sustainable farming practices, ready to thrive in dynamic environment. Brings strong understanding of crop management and soil health, with ability to quickly learn and apply new agricultural techniques. Ready to use and develop skills in data analysis and problem-solving in Agricultural Specialist role.
Professional agricultural expert with broad experience in sustainable farming practices and crop management. Strong focus on team collaboration, achieving results, and adapting to changing needs. Skilled in soil health assessment, pest management, and precision agriculture techniques. Known for reliability, problem-solving skills, and effective communication.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
2009
2009
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Agricultural Advisor
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
12.2014 - Current
- Render scientific and technical advice to internal and external clients to ensure sustainable development
- Provide technical support in terms of planning, government funded projects, advice and after care for organised agriculture and other agricultural stakeholders
- Promote sustainable productions on agricultural products
- Involvement in research activities
- Heading Crop Production unit for the Zone
- Co-ordinating Citrus commodity group for the zone
- District judge for extension programmes such as FEA and YARD
- Collect and interpret weather data for farmers (early warning)
- Keep up to dates with applicable prescripts, policies, procedures, technologies and new developments to be able to render efficient and effective technical service
- Co-ordinating Capacity building for the Subzone
- Perform administrative and related functions
Acting Assistant Director Gravelotte Service Centre
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
08.2021 - 07.2022
- Provide leadership and allocate responsibility to extension and advisory personnel in the Service Centre
- Ensure the provision of institutional and technical support to all agricultural programmes
- Ensure technical support to poverty alleviation programmes, food security, youth, disabled, woman, emerging and commercial farmers
- Coordinate, monitoring and evaluation of extension and advisory personnel in relation to planned programmes and linkages with stakeholders
- Perform administrative and related functions
Trainee General Manager
Makgoba Tea Estate/ Sapekoe
10.2011 - 11.2014
- Oversee day to day running of the farm
- Managing and monitoring Field supervisors
- Render advisory services to clients on industrial crop production and other issues
- Provision of working schedules to field supervisors and management of field workers
- Liaise with stakeholders in the industrial crop field for the improvement of the sector
- Promotion of proven and sustainable tea production practices at the estate
- Mitigate crop diseases by recommending the applicable pesticide that could be harmless for human consumption of the crop product
- Assisting General Manager with other adhoc tasks pertaining to farm management
- Management of human resources and collection of time books in the field
Intern Crop Production
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
04.2010 - 03.2011
- Assisted the Deputy manager/Manager manage and coordinate the provision of agronomic scientific and technical advice to internal and external clients to ensure sustainable development
- Provision of crop production information to extension officials and farmers
- Compilation of crop management charts
- Compile profiles for industrial crop projects supported by the Department
- Provision of production and entrepreneurial support to farmers and compilation crop production management charts
- Liaise with external stakeholders such as Cotton SA with regard to training of officials
- Liaise with external stakeholders such as MONSANTO on the Gmo regulations
- Liaise with external stakeholders such as ARC with regard to finding research information
- Assisting with the training of personnel facilitated by external stakeholders
- Co-ordinating and planning farmer’s days
- Conducting soil sampling and soil classification
- Provide agronomic advice and after care to farmers ranging from land preparation, Pest control and harvesting
Student assistant (Temporary)
University of Limpopo
03.2009 - 11.2009
- Assist BSc
- Undergraduates and Masters Students with research experimental designs and layouts
- Implementation of experiments and trials in the laboratory and greenhouse
Education
B. Agric Honours - Plant production
University of Limpopo
B. Agric management degree - undefined
University of Limpopo
Standard 10 - undefined
Tshebela high School
Skills
People management skills
Facilitation skills
Report writing skills
Negotiation skills
Problem solving
Scientific report writing
Good presentation skills
Water management
Sustainable agriculture
Integrated pest management
Precision agriculture
Research and development
Soil conservation
Biotechnology
Problem-solving
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving abilities
Excellent communication
Decision-making
Reporting skills
Time management abilities
GPS navigation
Data collection
Organizational skills
Project management
Interpersonal skills
Tertiary Qualification
- University of Limpopo, B. Agric Honours (Plant production), 05/01/09, Agronomy, Advanced pasture management, Biometry, Pest, pathogen and weed management, Vegetable Production
- University of Limpopo, B. Agric management degree, 05/01/08, Plant production, Soil Science, Animal Production, Agricultural Economics
High School Qualification
Tshebela high School, Standard 10 (Grade 12), 05/01/03, Sepedi, English, Afrikaans, Geography, Biology, Mathematics, Physical Science
Professional Body Registration
SACNASP, Scientist in the field of Agricultural Science (Candidate Natural Scientist), 07/01/15, 113945
Acquired Skills
- People management skills
- Facilitation skills
- Report writing skills
- Negotiation skills and Problem solving
- Scientific report writing
- Good presentation skills and had presented a poster at 57th SASAE conference
Short Courses
- Attended and completed Climate smart Agriculture training
- Attended a short course in Precision Farming
- AVCASA Basic Crop protection course
- Attended short course in Agricultural Extension
- Basics of citrus Pests and scouting
- Attended cotton training facilitated by cotton S.A
- Attended training on Harvesting and Postharvest and Agro-processing of subtropical crops
Crucial Competencies
- Computer literacy: Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft outlook, e-mail and internet.
- Presented three research papers for SASAE, Combined congress and District conference.
Personal Information
- Criminal Record: None
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: C1 (Code 10)
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of three staff members.
- Collaborated with research unit in the adaptation of new agricultural techniques for Climate Smart Agriculture.
- Researched on diversifying crops to increase sustainability in the Farm and Presented the paper at Limpopo research Forum
Interests
Timeline
Acting Assistant Director Gravelotte Service Centre
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
08.2021 - 07.2022
Agricultural Advisor
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
12.2014 - Current
Trainee General Manager
Makgoba Tea Estate/ Sapekoe
10.2011 - 11.2014
Intern Crop Production
Limpopo Department of Agriculture
04.2010 - 03.2011
Student assistant (Temporary)
University of Limpopo
03.2009 - 11.2009
B. Agric management degree - undefined
University of Limpopo
Standard 10 - undefined
Tshebela high School
B. Agric Honours - Plant production
University of Limpopo