Consultant - Assistant Agronomist

CGIAR System Organization; Montpellier; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An agricultural organization is seeking an experienced Agronomist consultant to enhance RTC commercialization, train farmers on seed production and marketing, and support research activities. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in agricultural development projects, particularly those funded by donors, and possess strong data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in donor-funded agricultural development projects.
• Experience in training trainers and farmers on seed multiplication, root production, harvesting, and storage.
• Skills in data collection, entry, and analysis.

Responsabilités

• Conduct field days on successful demo plots.
• Train trainers and farmers on seed multiplication and marketing.
• Compile activity and annual reports.
• Monitor intervention sites and prepare reports.

Connaissances

Training farmers

Data collection

Monitoring and evaluation

Facilitating cooperatives

Description du poste

The International Potato Center (CIP) has developed an innovative approach that integrates research and development activities aimed at commercializing the Root and Tuber Crops (RTC) subsector, focusing on potato, sweetpotato, and cassava. The goal is to increase the subsector's contribution to food and nutrition security, incomes, job creation, and economic growth in Malawi. Funded by the Embassy of Ireland to Malawi, the 4-year project, titled ‘Market-led Transformation of the Root and Tuber Crops Subsector (RTC-MARKET)’, started on 1st May 2023. It aims to achieve this through four main objectives: (i) developing and promoting improved RTC varieties, technologies, and knowledge to support commercial production, value addition, and market linkages; (ii) enhancing the availability and access to quality RTC seed and inputs; (iii) increasing production for domestic and export markets and food security; and (iv) boosting private sector investment and capacity in processing and marketing RTC products.

CIP seeks to engage an experienced Agronomist consultant with expertise in market/business development models to review and refine the model for RTC commercialization, aligned with project focus, and to develop a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating the transformation of the RTC subsector.

II. Objective

In executing this assignment, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Conduct field days on successful demo plots with DAE
2. Hold progress review meetings with district partners
3. Represent CIP at DAECC and DNCC meetings in districts
4. Train trainers and farmers on seed multiplication, production, harvesting, and marketing of sweetpotato
5. Facilitate the formation and capacity building of cooperatives and farmer groups
6. Compile activity and annual reports
7. Collect data from screen houses and tissue culture labs on early-generation seed production
8. Co-manage screen houses with DARS
9. Promote sweetpotato as a commercial crop
10. Translate research protocols into field experimental designs
11. Support scientists in establishing on-station experiments
12. Organize field days and evaluation sessions
13. Coordinate research activities with RTC DARS scientists
14. Develop action plans for experimental activities
15. Contribute to annual work plans, technical reports, and success stories
16. Produce monthly progress reports
17. Train seed multipliers and facilitate seed inspection
18. Conduct training on seed and root production
19. Implement on-farm trials and demonstrations
20. Monitor intervention sites and prepare reports

Requirements

• Experience in training trainers and farmers on seed multiplication, root production, harvesting, and storage
• Facilitation of registration and monitoring of decentralized vine multipliers by the Seed Service Unit (SSU)
• Experience in designing on-station and on-farm experiments
• Data collection, entry, and analysis skills
• Expertise in planning and distributing sweetpotato planting materials in RTC districts
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in donor-funded agricultural development projects