A leading agribusiness company in Kenya is seeking to fill the position of a Farmers Liaison Officer.
Overview: Reporting
to the Field Relations Officer, the FLO will be responsible for farmers
training, recruitments, orchard management, guide farmers on seedlings planting
and management, inspection, farmer visits, farmer complaints handling, GPS and
other data collection as assigned, harvesting activities, crop estimates,
advise farmers on cultural practices, competitor activities in the region,
submitting reports to the office, record maintenance and completion,
implementation and maintenance of Olivado Internal
Management System and other statutory requirements, other duties as assigned by
immediate supervisor.
Responsibilities
and Duties:
A1:
Farmers Relations and Harvesting Operation Duties
1.
Identifying potential avocado farmers in our target regions who can join the
Olivado program and recruit them based on Olivado producer/ member recruitment
procedure.
2. Visit each allocated farmer at least twice in a month all through year to accomplish tasks as specified in procedures and forms.
3.
Ensure that all farmer details, location, age, gender, number of trees and
other important information is well captured and updated on a regular basis in
the Olivado Data Management system.
4.
Train farmers on the best avocado seedling planting procedures and guide them
on the best practices to guarantee highest survival rates.
5.
Train and work with farmers on the best practices of orchard management,
organic farming and nutrition aspects.
6.
Estimate the amount and the value of organic manure used by farmers for
planting and regular application to the avocado seedlings.
7.
Identify farmers with the capacity to incorporate African Leafy Vegetables
(ALVs) in their farming and educate them the importance of ALVs on nutrition
and diversification.
8.
Estimate the quantity and value of ALVs produced by farmers above and record
the information in the Olivado Data Management system.
9.
Ensure all farmer concerns are addressed promptly by communicating via the data
system.
10.
Conduct crop estimates and update the information at each farm visit.
11.
Ensure all cultural practices (weeding, pruning, manure application, mulching)
within the farm are completed in a timely manner as per Olivado Internal
Management System.
12.
Conduct on-farm demonstrations on best agricultural practices such as erosion
control, manuring, pruning, mulching, weeding and planting of cover crops.
13.
Ensure all hygiene procedures (Hand washing facilities, waste pits, clean toilets,
waste pits, signages) are implemented as per Olivado internal management system
requirements.
14.
Identify suitable individuals within the village who can be engaged as seedling
planting assistants, harvesting team members and recommend them to the Field
Relations Officer for appropriate training.
15.
Develop and training harvesting teams within each village and maintain contact
with them (All harvesting teams to come from within walking distances from
farms).
16.
Promote company products such as Avogrow and seedlings or services such as
pruning to farmers and ensure good uptake of the same.
17.
Complete data collection forms whenever weeding, manure application, plant
protection application, pest trapping, pruning and other such cultural
practices are implemented in order to ensure proper records are maintained.
18.
Prepare reports as required by the data system.
19.
Seek assistance from the Technical Officer when required.
20.
Any other tasks assigned by the Field Relations Officer.
A2.
Farm inspection duties
1.
Farm inspection duties to verify compliance against statutory and voluntary
standards (The Field Relations Officer in consultation with the Compliance
Officer will assign the Farmers Liaison Officers inspection duties)
2.
Following up on closure of non-compliances identified during the internal
inspections.
3.
Address improvements in areas noted during the internal inspections.
A3.
Data collection duties
1.
Collection of data to assist with the understanding of the growth and
production of the avocado crop and other information for the improvement of
Fresh Export sales as well as oil Production.
2.
Complete data collection forms for reporting activities of competitors and
other activities that may affect the company’s operations, including county
government activities.
B. JOB
SPECIFICATION:
1.
Certificate/ Diploma in Agriculture or any other related course.
2.
Ability to communicate effectively with the farmers / farmers groups. Thus,
mandatory:
a.
Good understanding of the local community (i.e. village community structure,
culture, problems, attitudes and knowledge).
b.
Local language skills (reading, writing, speaking),
c.
English & Swahili reading, writing, and speaking skills.
3.
Ability to use mobile devices.
4.
Ability to prepare field records and reports.
5.
Energetic, able to walk long distances looking for farm(ers).
6.
A good team player.
7.
Ability to work on odd days including working during weekends and public
holidays when required.
8.
Good organizational skills.
Other
key desired attributes: –
a.
Three years’ experience in the production of horticultural crops.
b.
Knowledge of avocado fruits value chain including harvesting procedures,
desired maturity for both fresh and export fruits and quality grades.
c.
At least one day practical inspection course setting out basic principles of
inspection.
d.
At least two witness inspections accompanying an auditor, could be Global
G.A.P. or Organic, Fair Trade or others.
e.
Food safety and good agriculture practice (GAP) training.
i.
Training in HACCP principles.
ii.
Food hygiene training.
iii.
Plant protection, fertilizer use and integrated pest management training.
f.
Ability to work independently under minimal supervision and within a team.
g.
Ability to contribute to the planning of the company’s future relationships
with farmer suppliers and future strategic development of the company.
How to
Apply
Qualified
individuals should submit a cover letter and a Curriculum Vitae as one pdf
document, via email with the subject Farmers Liaison Officer to
hrkenya@olivado.com and cc fieldtech@olivado.com to reach us on or before 10th
February 2023.