Head of Agronomy (RHDC)

RHDC – Consulting Services Ltd, is a rightful Mozambican company of consultancy in Human Resources that operates in the areas of Job Agency, Recruitment and Selection, Training, Competence Evaluation and Development, Temporary Work.

Our Customer is an International Company and it is a leading agri-business operating in 65 countries, supplying food and industrial raw materials to over 13,800 customers worldwide. In its team of 23,000 employees has built a leadership position in many businesses including cocoa, coffee, cashew, rice and cotton, with offices in Mozambique. Due to its development, intends to recruit the following positions: Head of Agronomy.

Position: Head of Agronomy

Desired Qualification: Post-graduate in Agriculture Sciences with Agronomy as specialization

Desired Experience: Should have 8-10 years relevant experience with cotton production, specially related to productivity improvement (and not of extension farming). 

Basic Function

• To execute and manage all aspects of cotton Agronomy in a cotton out-growers program.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Post-graduate in agriculture sciences with Agronomy as specialization;
• Should have 8-10 years relevant experience with cotton production, specially related to productivity improvement (and not of extension farming);
• Knowledge of cotton insecticides / herbicides;
• Knowledge of soil sampling & testing would be an added advantage;
• Should be able to interact with extension team and lead farmers, and train them to adopt Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) for higher productivity;
• Should be a self-starter with leadership qualities;
• Should be good in man management with good oral and written communication skills;
• Willing to travel extensively.  

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Ability to increase cotton productivity – from 450 Kg/ ha to 1000 Kg/ ha for the average marginal farmer, under current conditions (no fertilizers and rain fed crop);
• Ability to identify & source and implement cost effective insecticides for effective insect pest’s control and herbicide for weed control;
• Develop and adopt Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) for higher seed cotton yields. Convert them into simple training aids, and conduct the same;
• Conduct R&D field trials with respect to various agronomic aspects and control of weeds and insect pests;
• Conduct and control large-scale field demos and demo plots for crop varieties & pesticides;
• Efficient and effective supervision of farm agronomy staff in all aspects of cotton production;
• Effective interaction with the extension team, and ensuring that the agronomy best practices are implemented at the hub level;
• Liaison with IAM (Government Cotton Institute) for new varieties and technology transfer;
• Champion Seed multiplication project;
• Develop and adopt efficient management systems to control, monitor cotton and report contract farming operations (related to agronomy). Co-ordinate the IT team in development of suitable MIS;
• Facilitate in sourcing of farm inputs and equipment for the out-growers project;
• Technical training to field staff and out-growers;
• Conduct crop and market surveys to estimate crop area and production;
• Preparation of technical reports and documentation.