1. CONTACT Amanxala Estate
Komatipoort
philize1@gmail.com
0836040725
Crookes Brothers Ltd Nov 1991 — Apr 1993
Crookes Brothers Ltd Apr 1993 — Nov 1995
Crookes Brothers Ltd Nov 1995 — Nov 2003
Crookes Brothers Ltd Nov 2003 — Nov 2009
Crookes Brothers Ltd Nov 2009 — Sep 2010
Phillip van der Merwe
WORK EXPERIENCE
Assistant Farm Manager Etten Cane
Was appointed as a student at Etten section and after 2 - 3 Months was promoted to permanent staff.
Was responsible for 25 cane cutters as well as assisting the farm manager with the normal farm operations.
Assistant Farm Manager
Transferred to Komatipoort to assist with bush clearing and developing of new Amanxala Estate.
Was responsible for bush clearing, field layouts and installing Solid set overhead irrigation system.
After completion of the project, I assisted with planting 500ha of Cane and 100ha of Bananas.
Farm Manager: Banana 2
I was appointed as Farm manager on 100ha of Bananas where I was responsible for the daily operations de-
suckering, hygiene, leaf sanitation, bunch hygiene bagging and propping, as well as the harvesting thereof.
Budgets, costs controls and pesticide control and fertilising.
Agriculture Manager: Bananas
Got married in 2002.
Promoted to Agriculture Manager with 465ha Bananas as well as the managing of 3 pack houses reporting to
the General Manager.
Budgets, Costs controls, crop dispositions, labour matters such as negotiations with unions, wage
negotiations and welfare and hygiene of staff and labour. Building maintenance, co-ordination of farming
equipment such as tractors and implements between the different sections. Global Gap, implementation of
fertilising programs. Pest and disease control.
Was a member of the Onderberg Banana Study Group where I worked closely with world known scientist Dr
John Robinson.
Also a member of the Onderberg Farmers Union.
Served as member on the Komati basin water authority.
Agriculture Manager: Cane
Was transferred to Cane on my request as I felt I needed to broaden my horizons. Although I was out of Cane
Phillip van der Merwe 1
2. Crookes Brothers Ltd Oct 2010 — Dec 2011
Crookes Brothers Ltd Jan 2012 — Present
Matriculated Jan 1984 — December 1984
National Diploma: Education Jan 1985 — November 1985
National Diploma: Agriculture - Plant
Production
Jan 1988 — Nov 1991
operations for a period, I kept myself informed of the industry.
I was responsible for the budgeting and cost controls of 2000ha Cane, implementing fertiliser programs,
ripening of cane, pest and disease control, harvesting and assisting the General Manager with reports to Head
Office.
Same responsibilities with the staff welfare and matters.
Served on the Mill Group Board as a grower member. Liaised with Harvesting and transport contractors.
Farm Manager: Deciduous Fruit
I was transferred to Villiersdorp in the Cape to learn more about Apples and Pears but was transferred back
after 14 months on request due to personal reasons.
Farm Manager: Cane
Appointed as Farm Manager on 860 ha of Cane of which 419ha is under centre pivot 162ha of drip and 279ha of
semi solid overhead irrigation.
Responsible for the normal practices of field development, ratoon management and harvesting. Also
responsible for the training of assistant farm managers.
Budgeting, Cost Controls and reporting on Canepro programs.
EDUCATION
Nelspruit Höerskool
Subjects passed : Afrikaans, English, Mathematics, Geography, Accounting, Business Economics
Goudstad Onderwys Kollege
Realised that it was not of any interest to me and dropped the course.
Technicon Pretoria
My strong subjects were Soil Science and Husbandry.
Completed and received my National Agricultural Diploma and started working for current company Crookes
Brothers in nKwaleni Natal.
Current years of service: 24 years.
INTERESTS
Golf
Reading
Camping
Nature conservation
Breeding of the Boerboel dog breed
REFERENCES
References available upon request.
Phillip van der Merwe 2
