International Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Operations Specialist

Organizational Setting

The project “Responding to the Economic Crisis: Protecting smallholder farmer livelihoods through safe and efficient use of fertilizer and quality seed for better productivity in paddy farming” aims at responding to the Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka, protecting smallholder farmer livelihoods through safe and efficient use of fertilizer and quality seed for better productivity in paddy farming. The project promotes transition of Sri Lankan agriculture towards more sustainable farming inputs including integrating use of organic fertilizer through IPNM. For this, the project will focus on soil fertility and supply of precise amount of plant nutrient for sustaining the desired productivity through optimization of the benefits of all possible sources of organic, inorganic and biological components in an integrated manner. This would address a vital missing component in the country’s crop management system for paddy and would be extremely beneficial for both environmental and economic perspectives.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will provide technical leadership and backup in order to ensure the delivery of project outputs under the results 3 of the project to a high standard, and in a cost effective manner, taking into account national and international best practices and research results, and in accordance with FAO, Government and donor norms. He / She will be under the overall administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka (FAOR) and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme) and the National Project manager. He / She is expected to function with the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) at the Headquarters in Rome, National Project Manager and in assistance with the National Consultant - Integrated Plant Nutrient Management.

Technical Focus

The Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Operations Specialist will be contributed to ensure that the outputs and targets under the expected results 2 of the project are met. Specifically, extension officials and farmers trained on the right amount, safe and efficient use of fertilizer through IPNM strategy by developing an INPM strategy for paddy rice farming in Sri Lanka, developing a training and capacity building module on IPNM to use in capacity building of 300 extension workers, and targeted 41,000 smallholder paddy farmers through farmer field schools in selected 4 districts Hambantota, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Badulla in Sri Lanka.

Tasks and responsibilities

- Conduct three missions ( two months, one month and one month) during the contract period; - Identify ecosystem based crop nutrition requirement, local soil indigenous nutrient availability and supply flow paths, recycling systems, and identifying suitable biomass generating crop species specific to different farming conditions while studying the soil biological systems; - Identify untapped nutrient sources and investigations on nutrient conservation in soil-plant systems; - Responsible for identify global and local literature proven IPNM strategies for paddy rice and converting into a farmer practice; - Define site-specific yield targets and the need of each nutrient in total and from soil indigenous sources; - Lead in Developing IPNM strategy by localizing the research information already available and updating the research focus on IPNM practices for diverse agro-ecological settings and cropping systems in Sri Lanka; - Lead in developing Training of Trainers Modules on IPNM; - Conduct Training of Trainers programme on IPNM; - Lead in developing farmer training modules on IPNM - Provide technical support for upgrading of LMS platforms; - Lead in monitoring and evaluate the IPNM component of the project - Develop IPNM training module with the aim of achieving ecosystem specific sustainable greater productivity which is economically viable through proper nutrient and crop management strategies - Make efficient use of all available nutrient sources, including organic manure, crop residues, and inorganic fertilizer according to availability and cost, - Follow plant need-based demand driven N management strategies using the leaf color chart (LCC), - Define methods to determine the soil P and K requirement; - Provide the crop with a balanced supply of nutrients N, P,K, and micronutrients, - Replace nutrients of P and K removed with grain and straw to avoid depleting soil nutrient reserves, - Select the least costly combination of fertilizer sources, using high-quality seeds, optimum planting density, integrated pest and weed management, and good crop management; - Adjust IPNM local needs to attain the potential maximum yield with a minimum cost, - Develop a fertilizer program, for individual fields or for larger and relatively uniform areas and develop recommendations, - Evaluate the capacity-building programme and the usefulness of the IPNM strategy and the training modules.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Crop Physiology, Agro ecology, Crop Science, and Plant and soil science. • At least 10 years of relevant experience in integrated plant nutrient management, agriculture, IPNM strategy development, module development, training and capacity building. • Working knowledge (level C) in English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) for COF. For PSA, working knowledge of English is required.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in topical countries on nutrient management in paddy farming or other crop management • Experience in Integrated plant nutrient management, specifically in paddy would be advantages • Experience in development of plant nutrient management strategies, training modules and conducting trainings • Familiarity with examining and analysing the agronomical practices and techniques to improve the crop productivity • Experiences in enhancement of ecosystem specific sustainable productivity through proper nutrient and crop management strategies