Ecofarmer

Worker in the rural environment, with extensive knowledge about environmentally-friendly agricultural and livestock practices, who is in charge of the crops and animal breeding. This involves, as regards agricultural practices, abstaining from the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers, with the consequent respect for natural crop cycles. Furthermore, they must ensure suitable living conditions for the animals without artificial means in order to achieve greater production and promote indigenous varieties. They can work on a self-employed basis, in cooperatives, for an institution or an individual. They may possibly need basic knowledge about the financial management of small farms.

• Organise and manage, as the case may be, a small or family agricultural farm.
• Plan and operate different herbaceous, tree and shrub crops.
• Operate a variety of agricultural machines and equipment and carry out their maintenance.
• Prepare and measure out the soil corrections and the products that naturally fertilize or control and prevent pests.
• Take care of the cattle, feeding them and cleaning the facilities where they live.

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Activitats auxiliars en agricultura (Nivell 1)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Activitats auxiliars en ramaderia (Nivell 1)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Agricultura ecològica (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Maneig i manteniment de maquinària agrícola (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Ramaderia ecològica (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Gestió de la producció ramadera (Nivell 3)

Other specific skills

Analytical thought: Level 1

Initiative: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Flexibility and change management: Level 1

Planning and organisation: Level 1

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Livestock technician

Specialist Operative in Intensive Horticulture

Farmhand

Turner

Tractor driver

• Work hours

  Full-time, with particular working hours depending on the specific needs of the farm and the time of the year.

• Salary

  Variable depending on the size of the farm and on responsibility: from 14.057 to 18.052 euros per annum. Median: 15.930 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Other features

  If one works on a self-employed basis and with owned land, there is often an unofficial job of the spouse and, temporarily, of the children, which exaggerates the actual productivity of the self-employed worker. Direct sales are often carried out, making it possible for the products on the market to appreciate.

• Professional category

  Specialist staff

• Human resources and equipment

  Also depends on the size of the farm. In not particularly large, perhaps only one helper is required. However, depending on the type of farming or activity, they may require a greater number of temporary workers.

• Initial investments

  Farming machinery and equipment, own vehicle, warehouses, land and animals.