Arusha Mjini Arusha
MASTER FIELD INSTRUCTOR ( 2 Post )
Department:
GAFCo ACADEMY
Reporting Direction:
GAFCo Academy Director
Location:
HQ- ARUSHA, 99% travel to farms
The GAFCo Academy Master Field Instructor, operating across multiple SPPs, will train both facilitators (ToF)-Training of Facilitators) (lead farmers from the villages) and GAFCo’s SPP Agronomists, in the substance and temporal course of the FFS (Farmer Field School) that the facilitators will have to animate. Farmers are generally selected by their communities and are expected to return with useful skills and knowledge to share. A typical ToF includes no more than 30 trainees (lead farmers). Training takes place in a season long ToF, based on complimentary and tightly associated practice and theory in non-formal education approach. On completion of the ToF, the newly trained facilitators become part of a training support network and begin animating FFS in their respective villages. These animations are carried out in pairs under the supervision of the GAFCo SPP (Small holder Procurement Point) Agronomist during their first year.
The Master Field Instructor will also train GAFCo SPP Agronomists and Farm Force Administrators in the proper use of the mobile application for farmer registration, growing activities, conducting surveys, and inspecting, detecting and reporting production issues (e.g., germination, disease, pest infestations).
Job Duties:
o Conduct Farmer Field School (FFS) training programs for village Facilitators and GAFCo SPP Agronomists based on standard FFS methodology and good agricultural best practices.
o Coordinate selection of Demonstration Plots for use by the FFS.
o Coordinate with SPP field personnel and village/ward representatives for the selection of lead farmers to serve as FFS Facilitators.
o Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Facilitators for continuous improvements based on farmer feedback surveys.
o Train GAFCo SPP Agronomists and Farmforce Admins in the proper use of the mobile application for farmer registration, growing activities, conducting surveys, and inspecting, detecting and reporting production issues (e.g., germination, disease, pest infestations).
Skills/Attributes/Competencies:
• Confidence and good training skills
• Good understanding of cultural diversities within East African (Tanzania) context
• Desire to work with small holders farmers and the ability to explain farming concepts in clear terms as critical points to poverty alleviation for the wellbeing of the children
• Knowledge of cover crops and plant rotations appropriate to East African soils and climates
• Skills and knowledge in commercial planning and production of legume seeds, oilseeds and horticultural crops
• Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) and Global Gap as required by European markets.
• Superb planning, analytical, project management, numerical skills and problems-solving ability;
• Good communication( verbal and written) and interpersonal relationship, administration and IT skills and comfortable working in a team and using own initiative;
Endeavour to achieve highest standards of work and the ability to organize and manage own workload;
Willingness to work in a busy and varied and harsh environment;
Educational & Professional Qualifications:
• BSc Agronomy or Applied Agricultural Education and Extension from an accredited University.
• Ability to carrying out variety performance tests know as National Performance Trial (NPT) including national variety performance trials, DUS tests, and pre and post control tests in accordance with the Seed Law 2003 and Seed Regulations 2007
Working Experience:
Has at least 3 years direct experience in applying agronomy education to smallholder farmer programs.
Mode of Application: Send in an application including: Cover letter in English, copies of Relevant Certificates and latest CV/Resume including three referees one of them being the current or last employer.
Drop off physically the application packet at our address –
Burka Estates,
Plot 175/786/3 Dodoma Road,
After Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Application Deadline: 10th June, 2017 at 17:00 hrs
Please if you do not meet the requirements do not apply.