Agricultural Officers at Help a Child (HaC)

Positions

1. Agricultural Officer based in Mavindini (Makueni County)
2. Agricultural Officer based in Matuu (Machakos County)

Position Reports to: Project Coordinator

Position

The HACA Agricultural Officer will support the achievement of the program’s agricultural production and marketing objectives principally through leading the program’s capacity building strategy with program partners and beneficiaries. In addition, the Agricultural Officer will oversee efforts that lead to increased and improved linkages between small farmers, farmer organizations, relevant government ministries and the private sector.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Farmer mobilization, recruitment and enrollment into the HACA poultry, dairy and crop production interventions (poultry, green gram, dairy)
• Set up and manage a number of chick brooders, sourcing of chicks from hatchers, and brooding the chicks to 4 weeks while administering the relevant vaccines
• Carrying out practical demonstrations relating to poultry production
• Advising farmers on group formation, construction of farm structures and equipment
• Plan and execute the best strategies in formulation of agribusiness products that will attract customers in the market especially poultry and pulses crops
• Undertake marketing of produce to ensure maximized returns and keep good relations with farmer clients
• Take lead in setting up and management of the credit management model through the farmer groups/Self Help Groups
• Dissemination of new technologies through community mobilization, sensitization and capacity building
• Participating in and organizing exhibitions, trade fairs, shows and field days for farmers
• Participating in planning and budgeting for the agribusiness component
• Collecting and collating livestock/crop data and information for gross margins, market access and planning
• Participate in various partnership and networking forums at project implementation level to share the work that HACA does as well as learn from other stakeholders
• Maintain working relations with relevant County Government line ministries (Crops and Animal Production Officers at the Ministry of Agriculture at Sub-county level), other implementing stakeholders, private sector, learning institutions among others

Qualifications

• Diploma in a relevant field such as Agriculture, Agronomy, Animal/Crop Production
• 2 years’ experience in a similar position
• Previous experience in rural set up of Kenya
• Experience and knowledge in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) market and value chain development, agricultural service provision and farm enterprise development
• Knowledge and previous practice of MS Office (Word and Excel are essential)
• Results driven and motivated by a sense of performance excellence and urgency
• Strong communication skills in English & Kamba, both verbally and written
• Personal qualities of integrity, customer orientation and cooperation
• Being a Christian adhering to the Christian identity of Help a Child
• Full support for the vision and mission of Help a Child