Agronomy and Post-Harvest Technical Specialist
Position Summary Expectations - Duties, Responsibilities
Tasks for the Agronomy and Post-Harvest Specialist will entail a combination of qualifications in agronomy and post-harvest technology. The following tasks are:
- Agronomy related responsibilities and tasks:
- Coordinate with the GDA team to provide technical advice and training on soil management and crop production to producers who are members of agricultural cooperatives of the ASPIRE AT beneficiaries.
- Facilitate and coordinate support to producers with core focus on optimizing crop productivity and yield by understanding soil health, nutrient management, and crop rotation and planning. Specific agronomic tasks include 1) soil analysis through the provision of assessing soil properties, fertility, and nutrient levels to recommend appropriate fertilizers, 2) crop production buy advising producers on suitable crops (vegetables, maize, pepper, cashew nut, mango and longan) based on soil type, climate, and market requirement, 3) crop management guidance on planting, watering, pest control, and disease prevention and 4) climate resilient sustainable practices on the promotion of climate smart farming technologies.
- Post-Harvest related responsibilities and tasks:
- Facilitate the capacity development support in postharvest technology and handling of targeted value chains to POs and smallholders to enhance the capacities in postharvest handling of produces/products to promote product competitiveness and improve value addition.
- Lead and coordinate to carry out an assessment of existing processing plants, national post-harvest practices in Cambodia to identify challenges and gaps for primary & secondary processing, market diversification in targeted value chains for export market as well as domestic consumptions.
- Facilitate the preparation of postharvest plan in close consultation with producer’s organization/groups.
- Develop training modules and materials for post-harvest technology training on key value chains to support members of AC famers, collectors and processors.
- Lead in the coordination and dissemination of postharvest technologies under the programme to support target beneficiaries and relevant stakeholders.
- Facilitate postharvest and marketing trainings to the targeted value chain stakeholders.
- Lead in the provision of training support to promote improved management of storage and warehouse facility.
- Promote the adoption of effective postharvest technologies to the programme target beneficiaries to minimize postharvest and storage loss and to increases product value.
- To facilitate support to agri SMEs on postharvest physical and technologies to preserve the quality and reduce postharvest losses and waste in targeted value chains.
- Provide advice to PO-level on packaging materials and methods to minimize damage of logistic handlings of fresh produces.
- Assist POs and agri-SMEs to explore tools and means to increase value addition to agricultural products through processing, including drying and storge.
- Contribute to develop postharvest technology knowledge products and materials to disseminate and promote awareness on different aspects the targeted crops produced.
- Perform any other required tasks necessary to the programme as requested by the ASPIRE AT management.
- To be qualified for the position, the candidate must meet to the minimum required qualifications and experience as follows:
- Advanced academic/Master degree in Agricultural Agronomy, Agriculture Engineering, Post-harvest Technology or other relevant/equivalent fields.
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in agriculture processing, marketing and value chain.
- The candidate shall have competency and demonstrated practical experience in agronomy, postharvest technology.
