Sales Agronomist at agriBORA

Job summary

A sales agronomist at agriBORA is a key member of the team responsible for providing technical and sales support to smallholder farmers and agriBORA Hubs. They play a crucial role in building relationships, promoting and selling agriBORA's products and services, providing agronomic advice and training, and collecting and analyzing data to improve offerings. The sales agronomist's goal is to empower smallholder farmers and improve their livelihoods by de-risking their operations and making them more appealing to financial institutions using digital tools and innovative technologies. Overall, the role of a sales agronomist at agriBORA is essential in enabling smallholder farmers and agriBORA Hubs to interact and transact with each other in a more affordable, efficient, transparent, and reliable way.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining relationships with smallholder farmers and agriBORA Hubs, building trust and credibility with them, and serving as a primary point of contact for technical support.
• Conducting field visits to farms and agriBORA Hubs to provide agronomic advice, such as recommendations on crop management practices, soil fertility, pest and disease control, and irrigation techniques.
• Promoting and selling agriBORA products and services, such as inputs, mechanization services, and extension services, to farmers and agriBORA Hubs, and building awareness of the value proposition of agriBORA.
• Providing training and capacity building to farmers and agriBORA Hubs on the use of agriBORA's digital platform, including how to access and use mobile payments, SMS,hub manger application and USSD services.
• Collaborating with other agriBORA team members, such as data scientists and software developers, to provide feedback on product and service development and contribute to the improvement of the platform.
• Collecting and analyzing data on farm practices, inputs usage, and yield outcomes to inform the development of new products and services and improve existing offerings.
• Staying up-to-date with the latest agronomic research and trends in the agriculture industry to provide the best possible support to farmers and agriBORA Hubs.
• Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g. agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, sales)
• Knowledge of crop production, pest and disease management, soil science, and plant nutrition. They should also be familiar with the latest trends in agricultural technology and be able to understand and work with data. Self-motivation and a proactive attitude.
• Able to communicate effectively with smallholder farmers, agriBORA Hubs, and other team members. They should have good interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and credibility with stakeholders.
• Able to promote and sell agriBORA's products and services to farmers and agriBORA Hubs and meet set targets. They should be able to identify customer needs and provide effective solutions.
• At least 2years of relevant working experience with smallholder farmers and grassroot agribusinesses in a rural context. They should be familiar with the challenges and opportunities of working with these stakeholders and be able to provide practical advice and support.
• Excellent team player skills, with the ability to work with culturally and geographically diverse teams.
• Fluency in English, both oral and written. Proficiency in the local language(s) used by smallholder farmers in Western Kenya is an added advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the country as needed.