Citrus farmer: Jacquin Blom
Citrus farming involves the farming of citrus trees of one or many variants which are suitable for your climatic conditions and soil type.The citrus farmer Jacquin Blom added that diversification is key to any farming practice and that citrus farming is just one of the types of fruit farming he does.
Blom said he acquired the knowledge and skills he has today through doing an extensive amount of research on the topic. But even though he put in the time to make sure he knows what he is doing, he still acknowledges that learning from others in the field is important.
“I acquired my knowledge and skills regarding citrus farming through researching, but that wasn’t enough. Be open and eager to learn from experienced people. Stay humble and absorb as much information as you can. Use these to your advantage,” he advised.
Blom added that he believes that farming can be for anyone who really has the passion for it and anyone who is willing to put in the work - because farming is hard work. “Farming is for anyone that puts their mind to making it work, but most importantly, you should be passionate about it. Then you will enjoy it much more,” he said.
He urged others who want to take up the trade of farming to put into practice what they have learnt from different sources and determine what works for them and what does not. He added that going into the field blindly without proper research will lead to costly mistakes.
Being a citrus farmer can be challenging, he said, but so can any other career path. Blom said even though he is a part-time farmer, he aims to grow his business, Blom Boerdery, to supply the local market and have a balanced demand and supply chain.
A citrus farmer’s daily duties include having daily inspections and an open and clear channel of communication with the people on the ground.
“Inspecting the overall health of the plant is key and having people who understand that makes it much easier to avoid losing a harvest," he said.