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Position Title: Agronomist- People Performance Group-Uganda, Jobs in Uganda,
Organisation: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
Primary Location: Lira
Experience : 3 (Years)
Application Deadline : April 25, 2014 - 5pm
Job Type : Full Time
Brief Company Profile:
Our client, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a Public
International Organization 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 its 4-year CATALIST-Uganda Project, funded by the
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kampala.
IFDC is recruiting an Agronomist to be based in the Lira regional office.
The role of the agronomist is to develop and disseminate intensified,
sustainable production methods for smallholder farmers for the projects
priority commodity—sunflower, soybean & cassava—as well as crops grown in
association with rice (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. The Agronomist will be expected to work with partners to develop
and disseminate trainings on profitable production methods.
Responsibilities
• Participate in the development of simple, direct training materials,
suited to both farmers and extension staff.
• Conduct quality training-of-trainers as well as direct farmer training.
• Work with partners to assure a high level of farmer adoption of commercialized
farming practices
• Assure demonstration plots are well-implemented, and field days are
well-organized and attended
• Work with partners to assure accurate data collection (yields, farmer
adoption levels)
• Identify production constraints or bottlenecks and develop means to
address them
• Link with the private sector and colleagues to enhance farmer access to
quality agro-inputs
• Work with regional agribusiness cluster specialists
Basic qualifications
• Honors degree in Crop Science/Agronomy
• Minimum 3 years experience with a recognized organization in agronomy or
crop science, with extensive experience in farmer training
• Specific knowledge of commercial production of sunflower, soybean &
cassava
• Familiarity with the establishment and management of out grower schemes
• Farming-as-a-business experience
• Familiarity with post-harvest handling and storage a plus
• Ability to communicate effectively with value-chain actors at all levels
involved in the project and to stimulate a genuinely participatory process
• Ability to coordinate training programs, field days, and other events
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative
• Good communication and reporting skills in English
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office, internet communications
• Fluency in language(s) in region of operation
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team; strong interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel extensively in region of assignment
Mode of Application:
To apply please send CV with 3 referees including copies of certificates to
the e-mail address below . Only e-mail applications are accepted. Please mark
the subject field: “PPG – Position name”, where you replace “Position name”
with the position you are applying for. Attachments may not fill more than 2
MB.
application@ppg.co.ug
