Overview
Provide technical and scientific assistance on seed production, variety development, and plant production and protection, with practical application of climate-smart agriculture approaches.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical and scientific assistance on the day-to-day management of national variety trials and ensure the best performance for the conduction of the variety maintenance program.
- Assist with the development of a work plan in consultation with the Seed Certification Directorate on daily and weekly data collection pertaining to procurement, processing and seed quality assurance from private Seed Companies.
- Assist the Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) on Variety for Cultivation and Use (VCU) test, variety screening and prepare data to present to variety release committee for the release of new variety for cultivation.
- Assist ARIA on Distinctness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) test to collect morphological data for development of catalogues.
- Assist with the selection of appropriate sites for optimum production of Breeder, Foundation, and Certified Seeds.
- Assist Improved seed Enterprise (ISE) and PSEs on production of sufficient quantity of foundation and certified seeds.
- Coordinate and organize Seed Production Planning Workshops with the support of Seed Certification Directorate in the respective regions or at national level.
- Ensure adoption and implementation of the best agronomic practices in the field and post-harvest handling operations, including ensuring that processing and packaging of Breeder, Foundation, Certified Seeds.
- Assist in conducting internal quality assurance measures for different class and type of seeds, as appropriate.
- Support the supervisor to work in close coordination with the Seed Certification Directorate to ensure timely and appropriate field inspection, collection of seed sampling, seed testing and availability of test results.
- Support private Seed enterprise on production of sufficient quantities of certified seeds of different crops.
- Ensure appropriate management of the seed storage to avoid quality deterioration and effective seed delivery to relative locations, when necessary.
- Coordinate the distribution of machinery to relevant stakeholders.
- Lead training of field-level personnel in essential technical aspects of seed production and provides updates to the Team leader.
- Assist in the formation of Common Interest Groups (CIGs) – ensuring that the size of each CIG and its composition is as per the norms, and thereafter, assists farmers (member of the CIGs) on the seed production training.
- Collaborates with the Enterprise & CIGs (Common Interest Groups) Development Specialist, prepares and conducts training for the CIGs on financial management, revolving fund management and business plan development.
- Facilitate the registration of CIGs and ensures they meet the required standards for recognition.
- Perform any other tasks as maybe required.
Required Experience
- 4 years of relevant experience in the field in implementing agricultural or related programs of which at least 2 years of UN or INGO experience in agriculture research or related programmes.
- Experience of working with the United Nations or other international organizations (especially those working in the field of agriculture) will be preferred.
- Ability to work independently is preferred.
- Excellent knowledge of agriculture research is preferred.
- Experience of working in emergency conditions is preferred.
- Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops with various partners.
- Experience working with research trials.
- Experience in preparation of training and holding meetings with research staff, CIGs and local authorities.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or related field
