AGRONOMIST JOB AT RSTGA

Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association (RSTGA) is an association made with

15,000Members located in 118 villages, Rungwe District in Mbeya Region. RSTGA is committed to and responsible to support its members in social, economic, health and education needs.

In response to health services needy of its members, RSTGA jointly with Wakulima Tea Company since 2004 established broad community HIV/AIDS interventions to support its members in preventions, care and treatments all HIV/AIDS infected/ affected household.

2013/2014 identified 475 members living with HIV/AIDS, with nutrition need as their on ARV- treatment. RSTGA and USAID-TAPP in now working to support home garden/ vegetable project to assist 475 RSTGA members in order to improve household Nutrition and income through home gardening.

To achieve this objective, RSTGA is looking for qualified, experiences, talented and efficient support Agronomist to provide technical support to 475 home gardens beneficiaries in 118 tea Growing villages.

Position objectives

To direct, promote and coordinate agronomist operations in manner that will optimize home gardens production among 475 Rungwe Smallholders located in 118villages, in order to achieve project mission, goals and results in outstanding performance of RSTGAHome gardens beneficiaries.

Position Title: Agronomist Contract Period: 9months. Employment: Immediate

Duty Station: Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association (RSTGA), Rungwe District Reporting to: Project Coordinator

Key Duties and Responsibilities

i. Participating in the design and implementation of field- based technical assistance trainings and other activities as per work plans.

ii. Identifying appropriate clients and stake holders in the horticultural sector and recommending them to the project coordinator for assistance.

iii. Identify constrains in local horticultural value chain so that the project and its partners (RSTGA, WTC, PLWA and USAID-TAPP) can begin identifying and introducing solution. 

iv. Identifying local market opportunities for Home hardens beneficiaries and determines how best the project can organize farmers to respond to these opportunities. 

v. Assist with formation and support of small holder’s growers group in scheme/ village to ensure successfully development and participation in out grower’s scheme or other group activities relevant project objectives. 

vi. Provide regular weekly technical assistance visits to Home garden clients/beneficiaries providing recommendation and monitoring progress. 

vii. Entering brief up date of beneficiaries visit, training and other activities into the CIRIS system on weekly basis and working with M&E team to otherwise contribute to the monitoring and evaluation process as required. 

viii. Assist with the establishment and management of farmer’s demonstration plots for effective diffusion of new technologies and production practices to project farmer groups in schemes. 

ix. Working with RSTGA project coordinator and TAPP- Production manager to RSTGA beneficiaries and technology fund assistance. Working with clients in implementation awards to ensure that anticipated project results are achieved. 

x. Assist with short-term consultancy visits and assisting them to successfully carry out their assignment. 

xi. Provide report to project coordinator on weekly and monthly bases. 

xii. Developing, translating and presenting technical and promotional materials as requested by clients training course, workshop presentation e.tc. 

xiii. Collaborating with government agencies, District council, universities research agencies, relevant donor program and other partner to facilitate the horticulture (Home garden and vegetable project). 

xiv. Providing Data and material for project report, success stories etc as required. 

xv. Preforming any other duties as may be signed by the project coordinator or RSTGA chief executive officer. 

Key Qualification/Skills/ experiences

I.  Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture production or Agriculture general.

II. Training either as part of formal qualifications or by successfully completion of formal course in: 

- Integrated crop management 

- Fertilizer and pesticides use 

- Human nutrition and HIV/AIDS. 

III. Two years experiences in production of horticultural crops/ vegetable in stallholders schemes. 

IV. Good Communication skills

V. Able to drive motor cycle with clean Driving License.

Remuneration

Competitive salary will be offered to right candidate based on qualifications, skills and experiences.

Mode of application

Interested applicants please email CV together with covering letter explains how you meet the criteria in this job description to hivcoord.wtc@tatepa.com copping to lebi.rstga@yahoo.com.

Deadline for Application

24^th February 2014 at 17:00hrs.