Agricultural Production Officer at Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Job Type: Contract (1 year)
Reporting and Location: Directly to the State Programme Coordinator

Summary

• The FGN/IFAD VCDP is desirous of engaging the services of Technical specialist and staff to facilitate VCDP and other IFAD Assisted programs implementation at the proposed additional VCDP states of Nassarawa, Kogi and Enugu.

Main Responsibilities

• The Agricultural Production Officer will be responsible for management of Subcomponent 2.2 Support to Smallholder Production at state level and for ensuring performance of the NGOs/service providers hired to implement the activities under the Subcomponent. A key element of the position is ensuring that the Programme targets small scale producers through the implementation of production enhancement activities.

Specific Duties:

• Responsible forthe coordination and supervision of the Subcomponent 2.2. of the project, Support to small holder production at state level,
• Work in close collaboration with the Rural Institutions and Gender Mainstreaming officer at state level in periodic meetings held at SPMU and during joint and in periodic field visits,
• Provide guidance to NGOs/Service providers hired to implement the activities and oversee the overall process of selection of target FOs and beneficiaries in close collaboration with the Rural Institutions and Gender Mainstreaming officer,
• Liaise with other relevant programmes and technical departments in the Public sector at state level such as ADP, the National Agricultural Seed Council, the National Root and Tuber Crop Research Institute, the National Cereals Research Institute,
• Liaise with any other stakeholder such seed companies, agro-dealers (distributors and sub distributors), equipment suppliers, at state level and LGA level,
• Contribute to the design of the overall distribution scheme of certified seeds/improved cassava cuttings, fertilizers and herbicides and equipment at state and LGA level,
• Supervise and coordinate the distribution of certified seeds/improved cassava cuttings, fertilizers and herbicides and equipment at state and LGA level including the delivery of goods at LGA level,
• Supervise the service provider in charge of implementing the activity, Promotion and dissemination of sustainable agricultural practices through the FFS approach,
• Contribute to the drafting of periodic project progress reports at state level and,
• Contribute to the state annual work plan and budget for Subcomponent.

Reporting and Location

• The position will be based in the SPMU office. The Agricultural Production/FFS Officer will report directly to the Agricultural Production Advisor based in the NPMU.

Qualification and Experience

• Masters or higher level University degree in Agronomy, Horticulture and other relevant discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience including at least 2 years in implementation of productivity enhancement projects.
• Knowledge in participatory approaches, gender mainstreaming and Farmers’ Field School approach will be an advantage.
• Proven record in the field of project implementation of productivity enhancement projects.
• Good writing skills and computer literacy