Apiarist and Livestock Production Technician Job in Kenya

Job Advertisement: Apiarist and Livestock Production Technician

A startup agribusiness company based in Chogoria Ward, Tharaka Nithi County is seeking to fill the position of Apiarist and Livestock Production Technician.

Overview

Reporting to the Farms Manager, the Apiarist and Livestock Production Technician will oversee the operational management of a commercial apiary and livestock in the farm which include beekeeping, goats breeding, and poultry.


The technician role is to ensure that bees and livestock husbandry is established and maintained at high standards, and the enterprise is productive and consistently growing.

The incumbent must meet the organisation needs, with the key objective of operational efficiency, resource optimisation, accountability and performance.

Responsibilities and Duties:

  1. Carry out animal husbandry tasks to a high standard including feeding, cleaning, breeding schedule management, application of general healthcare and treatment instructions as provided by a veterinarian, routine record keeping and reporting.
  2. Carry out beekeeping activities to a high standard including beehive installation, setting up swarm traps, transferring bee colonies from catcher boxes to permanent hives, monthly beehives inspection, honey harvesting, routine apiary management record keeping and reporting.
  3. Responsibly work alone and within a team to ensure that the apiary and livestock areas of the farm are presented to a high standard.
  4. Assist the management team in ensuring the smooth running of apiary and animal projects, including daily operational management of these departments.
  5. Follow policies and procedures in relation to animal husbandry and apiary management.
  6. Report any health and safety concerns to the Farm Manager.
  7. Carrying out practical demonstrations relating to sustainable beekeeping, livestock breeding and management.
  8. Participating in collaborative research activities.
  9. Ensure proper fodder production and management, including recording keeping and future fodder demand forecasting.
  10. Maintaining accurate data and digital records, and routinely submit them to management for review and feedback.
  11. Participating in beekeeping and livestock field demonstrations, agricultural shows and exhibitions.
  12. Demonstrating and training on best operational practices, disease, pests, and parasite control techniques such as deworming, spraying and dusting, beehives inspection, baiting and treatment.
  13. Carrying out animal weighing, vaccination, castration, dehorning, ear-tagging, deworming, disbudding, debeaking and hoof trimming.
  14. Keeping records on animal breeding and production, animal weight and health, and scheduled activities such as spraying, weaning schedule, vaccination, deworming, hoof trimming, etc.
  15. Plan and manage goat farm activities including budgeting for production equipment, supplies fodder, personnel, and supplementary nutrition products.
  16. Ensure a safe working environment, humane treatment of animals, and environmentally responsible production methods.
  17. Supervise, monitor, train and mentor other employees and visitors.
  18. Inspect equipment and farm structures to ensure proper functioning, and coordinate repairs and maintenance as needed.
  19. Assembling, labelling and installation of beehives to desired specifications and apiary location.
  20. Swarm bating and inducting trapped swarms into prepared hives.
  21. Conduct monthly hive health inspection, adding/removing super, record keeping and reporting.
  22. Conduct planned honey and bee products harvesting, extraction, filtering, storage, record keeping and reporting.
  23. Take steps to ensure only healthy and productive bee colonies are kept in our apiary by adopting best practices such as scraping out parasites and removing vermin, destroying diseased colonies.
  24. Ensure growth and economic viability of the beekeeping business by researching and experimenting on ingenious activities such as cultivating queen bees and splitting bee colonies for sale to other apiarists and our own apiary expansion.

Qualification Requirements

  1. Certificate or Diploma in animal production or animal health from Animal Health and Industry
    Training Institute (AHITI) or equivalent tertiary training institution.
  2. At least 3 years of practical experience in commercial animal breeding and management, (experience in goats / small ruminants production will be an added advantage).
  3. Registration with the Kenya Veterinary Board (added advantage).
  4. Proficient in general computer skills, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Email), certificate in these and other computer applications from a recognised institution will be an added advantage.
  5. Must be experienced in both commercial animal rearing and fodder management and can continually inform and influence the improvement of quality and yields productivity.
  6. The candidate should have broad experience in animal housing structures, fencing, efficient working infrastructure and safe animal husbandry equipment.
  7. The candidate should have relevant experience in farm chemicals handling and storage, animal health management and administration of routine procedures such as assisted births, natural breeding synchronization, spraying, drenching, castration etc.
  8. The candidate should be competent in record keeping, routine documentation and report presentation including data input and analysis reports.
  9. Certification in beekeeping and/or experience in apiary management will be an added advantage.
  10. Broad knowledge of animal and plant biology, and keenness on biodiversity and healthy ecology.
  11. Ability to calmly manage stressful situations whilst, remaining focused and productive.
  12. Basic sheds and equipment maintenance skills.
  13. Ability to lift heavy objects.
  14. Flexibility to work odd hours and weekends, with arranged alternative breaks, overtime, and support staff as needed.
  15. Ability to work productively and delivery results, with minimal or no supervision.
  16. Ability to supervise and mentor inexperienced staff to work productively and deliver set outcomes.
  17. Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions; PPE (clothing and equipment) will be provided.
  18. Academic qualification and/or experience in Farm Management are an added advantage.
  19.  Experience in motorcycle riding and/car driving are an added advantage.

Personal attributes and values

  1. Team leadership,
  2. teamwork,
  3. influencing abilities,
  4. self-motivated,
  5. ability to work under pressure,
  6. effective communication to all levels,
  7. honesty,
  8. integrity & transparency,
  9. professionalism and accountability,
  10. excellent planning,
  11. organizational, and
  12. time management skills.

Qualified individuals should submit a cover letter and a Curriculum Vitae as one pdf document, via email with the subject ‘Apiarist and Livestock Production Technician’ to info@idealconceptfarms.co.ke to reach us before or on 30th June 2023.