East-West Seed
JOB SUMMARY: Technical Field Officer, Knowledge Transfer
To provide technical knowledge to small-scale farmers; promoting and showcasing profitable and sustainable production practices. This position will support the pre-commercial activities of EWS. By increasing the productivity of vegetable production with smallholder farmers it is expected that this will lead to long-term opportunities for EWS to develop new markets in high-quality vegetable seeds.
Key Responsibilities
Supporting key farmer demonstration plots:
- Identify villages in collaboration with project partners
- Select and coach key farmers in collaboration with project partners
- Provide regular technical advice to farmers on all aspects of vegetable production
- Share monthly follow-up and training plans with the KT Manager and project partners
- Place signboards around the demonstration plots to inform other farmers of the current activity.
- Take photos of the demonstration plot at different growing stages
- Share farm records with farmers and key partners
Conduct farmer training:
- Identify training needs per crop season of the different groups in villages
- Plan training of farmers
- Share training plan with KT Manager
- Conduct short village-level training courses on vegetable production, as per the project document
- Collect data for Project Lead
- Evaluate training and training materials in collaboration with project partners and KT Manager
- Ensure regular participation of farmers in the training
- Distribute extension materials
- Be proactive in organizing and supporting women farmers’ groups
Organize field days
- Plan field days during harvest on all successful demonstrations
- Share the plan with project partners and the KT Manager
- Advertise and inform the community and stakeholders
- Record information and observations from field days
- Distribute extension materials
Technical point of contact for vegetable production within the area of activities.
- Participate in other events organized by EWS (commercial field days etc.)
- Be proactive in keeping up to date with new varieties, new techniques, and new products on the market
- Be proactive in setting trials in demonstration farms, and record accordingly results.
- Closely coordinate activities with input dealers and collectors and support them with technical information
- Support in organizing and conducting radio programs for farmers on selected topics
- Closely follow up on Arifu’s mobile SMS and offer needed support to farmers
Data collection in coordination with the KT Manager
- Report accurate and timely farm records
- Record data for monitoring – training number of participants, field days participants
- Record observations, and remarks that could be important in evaluating and managing activities
- Submit reports as required by the administrator, Technical, and KT Manager
Are we looking for you?
- Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture
- Ability to communicate with all levels; particularly smallholder farmers
- Must have technical competence in all aspects of crop management
- Experience in technical training (farmer extension)
- Ability to transfer improved farm management practices through key farmers
- Able to build trust in farming communities
- Good time management and organization skills
- Able to coordinate with input dealer, collector, and relevant partner
- Ability to solve problems(analytical thinking) and share relevant information
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the Swahili language, and proficiency in English a plus
- Ability to ride a motorcycle and possession of a valid driving license preferably class A
- Computer literacy is a plus
East-West Seed has competitive packages on offer for outperformers
Application Deadline: September 30th, 2023.
Email: ewtz_recruitment@eastwestseed.com