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Position Location: Mbale
Deadline; April 12, 2013.
Tracking
Code;
20120065
Job
Description
The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a public
international organization (PIO) governed by an international board of
directors with representation from developed and developing nations. The
non-profit center focuses on increasing and sustaining food and agricultural
productivity in developing countries through the development and transfer of
effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness
expertise. IFDC is recruiting staff for the 4-year CATALIST-Uganda Project,
funded by DGIS through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the
Required
Skills
Job summary
The role of the agronomists is to develop and disseminate intensified,
sustainable production methods for smallholder farmers for priority
commodities—Irish potato, cassava, rice (particularly paddy rice) and
sunflower—as well as crops grown in association with these crops (usually as
rotations). Dissemination is primarily through interaction with government and
non-government partners, including farmer organizations, agro-input dealers,
NGOs, international research organizations, and government research and
extension.
The focus is on commercial, sustainable production to achieve marketable
surpluses, and to reduce production costs.
Commercial production will involve the use of
fertilizers, organic matter management, improved germplasm, and good farming
practices, which may include crop rotations/intercrops, crop/livestock
integration, weed and pest control measures, minimum tillage, water harvesting,
and erosion control measures.
Farming-as-a-business skills are necessary,
such as the ability to make farm budgets and evaluate the profitability of
technical interventions.
Agronomists should have extensive
experience in growing one or more of the priority crops, and knowledge of
cropping systems in their area of operation.
They
will be expected to work to develop and disseminate trainings on profitable
production methods.
o Participate in the development of simple, direct training materials,
suited to both farmers and extension
staff
o Conduct quality training-of-trainers as well as direct farmer
training
o Work with partners to assure a high level of farmer adoption of
commercialized farming practices
o Assure demonstration plots are well-implemented, and field days are
well-organized and attended
o Work with partners to assure accurate data collection (yields,
farmer adoption levels)
o Identify production constraints or bottlenecks and develop means to
address them.
o Work with regional agribusiness cluster specialists
Required
Experience
o Honors degree in Crop Science/Agronomy
o Minimum 3 years’ experience with a recognized organization in
agronomy or crop science, with extensive experience in farmer training
o Specific knowledge of one commercial production of one or more of
the following: Irish potato, cassava, paddy rice, and/or sunflower
o Familiarity with the establishment and management of out grower
schemes
o Farming-as-a-business experience
o Familiarity with post-harvest handling and storage a plus
o Ability to communicate effectively with value-chain actors at all
levels involved in the project and to stimulate a genuinely participatory
process
o Ability to coordinate training programs, field days, and other
events
o Ability to work independently and to take initiative
o Good communication and reporting skills in English
o Computer skills: Microsoft Office, internet communications
o Fluency in language(s) in region of operation
o Demonstrated ability to work in a team; strong interpersonal skills
o Willingness to travel extensively in region of operation
Closing Date for Application
April 12, 2013
