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Farm & Plantation Supervisor

Agriculture

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Agriculture

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
  2. 2Record the numbers and types of fish or shellfish reared, harvested, released, sold, and shipped.
  3. 3Monitor workers to ensure that safety regulations are followed, warning or disciplining those who violate safety regulations.
  4. 4Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
  5. 5Observe fish and beds or ponds to detect diseases, monitor fish growth, determine quality of fish, or determine completeness of harvesting.
  6. 6Train workers in tree felling or bucking, operation of tractors or loading machines, yarding or loading techniques, or safety regulations.
  7. 7Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
  8. 8Train workers in spawning, rearing, cultivating, and harvesting methods, and in the use of equipment.
  9. 9Train workers in techniques such as planting, harvesting, weeding, or insect identification and in the use of safety measures.
  10. 10Confer with managers to evaluate weather or soil conditions, to develop plans or procedures, or to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating techniques.
  11. 11Communicate with forestry personnel regarding forest harvesting or forest management plans, procedures, or schedules.
  12. 12Inspect crops, fields, or plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating, spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
  13. 13Coordinate dismantling, moving, and setting up equipment at new work sites.
  14. 14Coordinate the selection and movement of logs from storage areas, according to transportation schedules or production requirements.
  15. 15Schedule work crews, equipment, or transportation for several different work locations.
  16. 16Drive or operate farm machinery, such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters, to transport workers or supplies or to cultivate or harvest fields.
  17. 17Perform both supervisory and management functions, such as accounting, marketing, and personnel work.
  18. 18Transport or arrange for transport of animals, equipment, food, animal feed, and other supplies to and from work sites.
  19. 19Inspect buildings, fences, fields or ranges, supplies, and equipment to determine work to be performed.
  20. 20Read inventory records, customer orders, or shipping schedules to determine required activities.
  21. 21Inspect facilities to determine maintenance needs.
  22. 22Confer with managers to determine production requirements, conditions of equipment and supplies, and work schedules.
  23. 23Prepare and maintain time or payroll reports, as well as details of personnel actions, such as performance evaluations, hires, promotions, or disciplinary actions.
  24. 24Requisition or purchase supplies, such as insecticides, machine parts or lubricants, or tools.
  25. 25Monitor or oversee construction projects, such as horticultural buildings or irrigation systems.
  26. 26Issue equipment, such as farm implements, machinery, ladders, or containers to workers, and collect equipment when work is complete.
  27. 27Calculate or monitor budgets for maintenance or development of collections, grounds, or infrastructure.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Saw Boss
  • Barn Boss
  • Boom Boss
  • Camp Boss
  • Farm Boss
  • Crew Chief
  • Gamekeeper
  • Woods Boss
  • Boom Master
  • Corral Boss

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Production and Processing — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Production and Processing — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Administration and Management78%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Production and Processing74%

    Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies

  • Customer and Personal Service70%
  • English Language68%

    English

  • Mechanical68%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Education and Training66%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentOften

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

0%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org