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GIR TARA

Gir Junagadh, Gujarat

ગીર, જૂનાગઢ, ગુજરાત

JOB PROFILE: HORTICULTURIST

Position

Horticulturist

Location

Department

Landscape & Grounds

Gir Tara Estate

Reports To

Estate Manager / Director

Junagadh, Gujarat

Qualification

B.Sc. / M.Sc. Horticulture

Preferred: M.Sc.

Language Required

Gujarati (fluent) + Hindi / English

1. Purpose of the Role

The Horticulturist at Gir Tara is responsible for the planning, development, maintenance, and beautification of all landscape areas within the Gir Tara estate at Gir, Junagadh. The incumbent will manage the full spectrum of horticultural operations — from ground-level plant care to overseeing specialised machinery, managing a team of garden workers, interpreting landscape drawings, and submitting structured maintenance reports. Given the unique ecological setting of the Gir forest region, the role demands deep expertise in native Gujarati flora as well as imported and exotic species introduced within the estate.
1. Educational Qualifications & Experience

Criteria

Requirement

Minimum Education

B.Sc. Horticulture from a recognised agricultural university (e.g., NAU Navsari, AAU Anand, SDAU Sardarkrushinagar)

Preferred Education

M.Sc. Horticulture with specialisation in Landscaping, Floriculture, or Plantation Management

Experience

Minimum 5 years in landscape / horticultural management at a resort, estate, botanical garden, or large institutional campus

Language

Fluent in Gujarati (mandatory); working proficiency in Hindi and/or English

Drawing Skills

Ability to read landscape drawings, planting plans, irrigation layout drawings, and AutoCAD/GIS outputs

Computer Skills

Basic MS Office; ability to prepare digital maintenance reports and work allocation sheets

1. Plant Knowledge & Botanical Competence

The Horticulturist must possess comprehensive knowledge of the following plant categories and species relevant to the Gir Junagadh landscape: 3.1 Native & Regional Trees (Gir Forest Belt)

Common Name

Botanical Name

Key Feature

Baobab (Gorakh Imli)

Adansonia digitata

Iconic specimen tree; drought-hardy

Teak

Tectona grandis

Timber & shade tree native to Gir

Banyan

Ficus benghalensis

Landmark heritage tree

Peepal

Ficus religiosa

Sacred; attracts wildlife

Jamun

Syzygium cumini

Fruit tree; wildlife attractant

Khejri / Prosopis

Prosopis cineraria

Dryland species; soil fixation

Amaltas

Cassia fistula

Ornamental flowering tree

Neem

Azadirachta indica

Medicinal; shade & insect repellent

Gulmohur

Delonix regia

Ornamental avenue tree

Arjun

Terminalia arjuna

Riparian; medicinal

3.2 Imported & Exotic Species

Common Name

Botanical Name

Notes

Olive

Olea europaea

Irrigated specimen planting; needs well-drained soil

Date Palm

Phoenix dactylifera

Drought-tolerant; iconic landscape palm

Royal Palm

Roystonea regia

Avenue/formal planting

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea spp.

Climbing shrub; boundary & pergola

Jacaranda

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Ornamental; purple flowering

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus spp.

Fast-growing windbreak

Bottle Brush

Callistemon spp.

Hedge & specimen planting

3.3 Shrubs & Ornamental Plants

- Ixora, Lantana, Duranta, Hibiscus, Tecoma, Murraya (Kamini), Clerodendrum
- Croton varieties, Acalypha, Cordyline, Dracaena for foliage contrast
- Plumbago, Russelia, Thunbergia for flowering borders
- Euphorbia, Agave, Aloe, Cactus for xeric/dry zones

3.4 Ground Covers & Grass
- Doob grass (Cynodon dactylon) — primary lawn turf for Gir climate
- Buffalo grass, Zoysia, Bermuda varieties for high-traffic zones
- Wedelia, Vinca, Portulaca, Gazania for ornamental ground cover
- Mondo grass, Liriope for shaded border edges
- Dichondra, Durva for fine lawns and pathways

1. Good Horticultural Maintenance Practices4.1 Lawn & Turf Maintenance

- Regular mowing at appropriate height (25–35 mm for Cynodon lawn)
- Aeration, top-dressing, and overseeding as seasonal requirement
- Fertilisation schedule: NPK balance based on soil-test results
- Irrigation scheduling: early morning watering; avoid midday irrigation in summer
- Weed control: both manual and controlled herbicide application

4.2 Tree & Shrub Care
- Crown reduction and canopy lifting for structural safety
- Formative pruning of young trees to establish good scaffold
- Deadwooding and removal of diseased limbs
- Callus protection and wound sealing after pruning cuts
- Mulching around tree bases: 75–100 mm depth, kept away from stem
- Soil enrichment with vermicompost and neem cake for ornamentals





4.3 Irrigation & Water Management
- Operation and maintenance of drip, sprinkler, and micro-irrigation systems
- Seasonal adjustment of irrigation timers and pressure settings
- Monitoring of moisture levels using soil tensiometers or finger-test methods
- Rainwater harvesting utilisation and reduction of municipal water dependency

4.4 Pest, Disease & Weed Management
- Identification of common pests: mealy bugs, aphids, white fly, termites, stem borers
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach — biological before chemical
- Application of neem-based, organic and approved chemical pesticides with PPE
- Fungal disease management: powdery mildew, leaf spot, root rot
- Weed mapping and seasonal eradication programmes

4.5 Seasonal Planting & Nursery Management
- Seasonal flower bed planning: winter annuals (marigold, salvia, zinnia) and summer beds
- Propagation: cuttings, air layering, seed germination in nursery beds
- Hardening of nursery-raised stock before transplanting
- Maintenance of in-house nursery with correct shadenet, watering, and labelling

1. Machinery: Knowledge, Capacity & Efficiency

The Horticulturist must have thorough operational knowledge of all machinery used on the estate, including safe operation, capacity management, and efficiency benchmarks.

Machine / Equipment

Type / Model Range

Typical Capacity

Efficiency Standard

Key Application

Ride-On Lawn Mower

Kubota / John Deere (42"–60" deck)

Up to 2.5 acres/hr

8–10 hrs operational/day

Large lawn areas

Walk-Behind Mower

Honda / Husqvarna (18"–22")

0.3–0.5 acres/hr

4–6 hrs/day with operator

Tight/sloped areas

Rotary Brush Cutter

Kawasaki / STIHL FS 131

600–800 m²/hr

Blade change every 40 hrs

Rough grass, weeds

Hedge Trimmer (Petrol)

STIHL HS 45 / Echo

50–80 m linear/hr

Blade sharpen fortnightly

Hedge/topiary shaping

Chainsaw (Petrol)

STIHL MS 271 / Husqvarna 450

Diameter up to 45 cm

Chain sharpen every shift

Lopping, tree removal

Pole Pruner / Loppers

STIHL HT 133 (telescopic)

Reach up to 5 m For canopy work <8 m ht

Crown lifting, deadwood

Petrol Blower / Sweeper

STIHL BR 450 / Honda HHB

1,200 m²/hr

Full tank 45 min run

Leaf/debris clearance

Ride-On Sweeper

Tennant / Karscher (ride-on)

Up to 4,000 m²/hr

8 hr operational day

Paved paths, courtyards

Tractor with Topper

Mahindra / Eicher 25-35 HP

2–3 acres/hr

Service every 250 hrs

Large turf topping

Knapsack Sprayer

Neptune / Solo (16 L)

500–800 m²/tank

Nozzle clean every use

Pesticide/fertiliser spray

Power Sprayer (Petrol)

Honda WX10 / Neptune 2 HP

Up to 3,000 m²/hr

Filter clean weekly

Large-area pest control

Water Tanker / Cart

Tractor-mounted 1,000 L

1,000 L per trip

2–3 trips/hr radius 1 km

Spot irrigation, dust control

1. Machine Repair & Preventive Maintenance6.1 Daily Pre-Operation Checks

- Fuel, oil, coolant, and hydraulic fluid levels on all petrol/diesel machines
- Blade/chain condition — no cracks, correct tension, sharpness
- Safety guards, kill switches, and operator protection devices functional
- Air filter cleanliness check on all 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines

6.2 Scheduled Preventive Maintenance
- Engine oil change: every 50 hours or as per manufacturer schedule
- Air filter replacement: every 100 hours or as needed in dusty conditions
- Spark plug inspection and replacement: every 100 operating hours
- Blade balancing and sharpening: every 20–25 hours of cutting operation
- Gear box and transmission oil change: every 500 hours
- Full machine service log to be maintained in the equipment register

6.3 Breakdown & Repair Protocol
- First-level troubleshooting by Horticulturist before calling external service
- Maintain a minimum spare parts inventory: air filters, spark plugs, cutting blades, belts
- All breakdowns to be logged with date, machine ID, fault, action taken, and cost
- Empanelled service centre contact list to be maintained for each machine brand
- Annual AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) to be arranged for critical machines

1. Team Management & Worker Handling7.1 Team Structure





The Horticulturist will directly supervise and manage the landscape workforce, which may comprise:
- Junior Horticulturist / Supervisor (1–2 nos.)
- Skilled Machine Operators (mower, chainsaw, brush cutter)
- Maali / General Garden Workers
- Contract / Seasonal Labour during peak season

7.2 Work Allocation & Daily Planning
- Daily morning muster (hazri) and briefing before commencement of work
- Assignment of specific zones/tasks to each worker with time targets
- Preparation of a Weekly Work Schedule covering mowing, pruning, watering, cleaning, and plantation activities
- Rotation of workers across tasks to ensure skill development and reduce fatigue
- Tool and machine allocation register maintained daily

7.3 Labour Welfare & Discipline
- Ensure all workers are provided with PPE (gloves, goggles, boots, hearing protection for machine operators)
- First aid readiness and awareness of heat-stress protocols (critical in Gir summer)
- Maintenance of attendance register, leave records, and overtime records
- Resolve worker grievances and escalate HR issues to Estate Manager
- Conduct regular tool-box talks on protected machine handling and chemical safety

1. Drawing Reading & Site Execution8.1 Types of Drawings

- Landscape Layout / Planting Plans: identifying plant zones, species placement, density
- Irrigation Schematic Drawings: pipe routing, emitter locations, valve boxes
- Grading / Earthwork Plans: slope levels, drainage channels, finish levels (RL values)
- Hard Landscape Plans: pathways, boundary walls, edging, paving layouts
- AutoCAD / GIS-based output drawings for large estate zones

8.2 Execution Responsibilities
- Mark out planting beds and tree pit locations on ground as per approved drawing
- Verify tree pit sizes, spacing, and soil mix specifications before planting
- Confirm irrigation pipe runs and valve positions against drawing before installation
- Document any site deviations from drawing with photographs and submit for approval
- Coordinate with civil, irrigation, and electrical contractors for integrated works

1. Reporting & Documentation9.1 Daily Reports

- Daily Work Report (DWR): tasks completed, workers deployed, machines used
- Plant health observations: pest/disease sightings, plant stress indicators
- Machine usage log: hours run, fuel consumed, issues noted

9.2 Weekly Reports
- Weekly Maintenance Summary: zone-wise progress against planned schedule
- Nursery stock status: plants available, plants transplanted, propagation progress
- Worker attendance and productivity summary

9.3 Monthly Reports
- Monthly Horticulture Status Report to Estate Manager covering: plant health score, seasonal planting status, irrigation performance, machinery status, budget utilisation, upcoming month plan
- Photographic progress report of all major landscape zones
- Procurement requisitions for fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, plants, and machine spares

9.4 Seasonal / Annual Reports
- Annual Horticulture Audit: species inventory, tree condition assessment, soil test results
- Post-monsoon assessment and remediation plan
- Proposed annual budget for horticulture operations

1. Key Competencies

Technical Competencies

Behavioural Competencies

Deep knowledge of native Gir flora & exotic species

Strong leadership and team management

Horticultural science: soil, nutrition, IPM

Attention to detail and quality consciousness

Machinery operation, safety & maintenance

Proactive communication and reporting

Irrigation system management

Ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions

Landscape drawing interpretation

Time management and priority setting

Nursery and propagation skills

Fluency in Gujarati for worker communication

Seasonal planning and budgeting

Commitment to sustainability and ecology

1. Preferred Attributes for Gir Tara Context

- Familiarity with the Gir forest ecosystem, soil types, and monsoon patterns of Saurashtra region
- Prior experience working in eco-resorts, wildlife sanctuaries, or heritage properties in Gujarat
- Knowledge of Gujarati horticultural practices, local plant names (Gujarati), and seasonal crop calendars
- Sensitivity to wildlife: understanding of plant species that attract/benefit Asiatic lions, birds, and other Gir fauna
- Experience maintaining specimen Baobab (Adansonia digitata / Gorakh Imli) trees — a signature species of the Junagadh region
- Awareness of water conservation in a semi-arid climate and ability to implement xeriscaping principles

Pay: ₹25,000.00 - ₹28,000.00 per month

Benefits

- Cell phone reimbursement

Work Location: In person

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📌 Horticulturist (Junagadh)
🏢 VRUNDAVAN PLANTATION
📍 Junagadh