Agronomist Officer (Afghan National Only)

Job Description

- Conduct sustainable land management study and develop action plan on agro-based interventions and activities accordingly. - Provide technical support, inputs and agricultural extension services to farmers, farmers groups, and cooperatives for the production handling of high value agricultural and horticultural commodities. - Train farmers in new agriculture technology and horticulture techniques and methods to enhance productivity in the area. - Support farmers through field visits and trainings using the (FFS) Farmer Field School principles. - Training of the female beneficiaries on the poultry production and implementation of the poultry activities; - Lead the development of agricultural technical standards, training manuals and other implementation tools for the development of the agriculture; - Establish Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) and Resources Committee and train them on improved production methodologies and community based natural resources management (CBNRM) - Establish demonstration farm and conduct participatory trials and research; and demonstrate comparative results of improved agro-based production methodologies with selected FFS members. - Ensure proper selection of households and FFS members and distribute agro-inputs for the FFS / demonstrational plots with necessary technical support and extension services to the producers. - Link farmers, kitchen gardening, poultry and livestock beneficiaries to the local markets to generate income; - Work with CDCs and develop and implement joint agro-production and ensure necessary technical and extension supports. - Conduct value chain and market assessment, identify potential farming groups and FFSs; and develop value chain and marketing projects. - Closely collaborate with the existing dairy farms and link the female livestock beneficiaries to these dairy farms; - Design, develop training manuals, presentations, IEC Materials required for the trainings; - Embark extensive field visits, monitor progress of activities, document lesson learnt and best practice and ensure collection and compilation of M&E data and information from the field and prepare progress report. - Ensure close communication and coordination with project team, district authorities and community elders through regular visits, participation in meeting, organize joint field visits and submission of reports. - Conduct, accordingly, necessary training for the district and provincial extension staff involved in the project for implementation of demonstration and FFS to improve their skills and capacity. - Review the guidelines for operational strategies and implementation of demonstration plots and FFS with other project staff. - Organize necessary field visits to the schemes where demonstration plots and FFS have been established to assess the progress of demo/FFS plots and ensure necessary technical support to the Farmers and district extension staff. - Provide recommendations to farmers on improving soil fertility irrigated agronomic measures such as raised-bed furrow irrigation, fertilizers application rates and methods, and water saving for increasing crop production; - Train university and Agriculture department interns on the principles of FFS.

Qualifications

- Bachelor Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy or Agriculture Extension - At least 3 - 4 years of progressive work experience in the similar roles in the field of food security and nutrition, livelihoods, agricultural extension, value chain and marketing projects with INGO or Afghan NGOs. - Experience in agricultural marketing and business linkages; delivery of field level extension activities; organizing trainings and delivery; and training received in related subjects - Experience in developing agriculture/horticulture based training curricula, agriculture value chain, marketing and business development. - Experience in facilitating agricultural extension methodologies particularly Farmers Field School and Self-help Groups with demonstration of participatory research and technology development following Demonstration farms is preferred. - Understanding on research and survey methodologies, designing and implementing food security and nutrition survey, value chain study and market assessment is required. - Good spoken and written skill in English, Pashto and Dari Languages and possess good skills in report writing