Job offer: Area Technical Officer - (Crops)

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

CIRCULAR NO. 4 OF 2024.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition:

MINISTRY : AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

DEPARTMENT : FIELD SERVICES

TITLE : AREA TECHNICAL OFFICER – (Crops)

GRADE : E

RESPONSIBLE TO  : AREA EXTENSION OFFICER

LOCATION : QACHA’S NEK

JOB SUMMARY

UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF AREA EXTENSION OFFICER, THE INCUMBENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATION OF IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS THROUGH ALC, DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, PREPARATION OF SUB-SECTIONAL BUDGET, COORDINATION OF SUB-SECTIONAL ACTIVITIES.

MAIN DUTIES

1.   FACILITATION OF IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS THROUGH ALC.

• Guides the farming community in identifying their own problems to provide a basis for their own development programmes.
• Guides the farming community in prioritizing problems to give focus to their efforts.
• Guides the farming community in analyzing their prioritized problems so as to identify the underlying causes to the problems.

2.   DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN

• Provides information on crop production technologies to assist the community in finding solutions to their problems.
• Guides the development of the community action plan in order to define roles, responsibilities and targets.

3.   FACILITATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN

• Advises farmers on simple trial methods on crop production for “learning- by-doing” in order to identify the best solutions to the problem.
• Trains farmers in liaison with SMS on a appropriate crop production techniques (field crops, horticulture) as identified
• Liaises with the Area Extension Officer and Technical Officer (of relevant field) in arranging study tours and farmer to farmer visits to expose agricultural methods and ideas within and outside the designated area.
• Promotes and trains farmer’s extension facilitators in order to equip them with knowledge and skills.

4.   COORDINATION OF SUBSECTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Liaises with other sub-sectional heads with and outside the resource center to solicit support in the implementation of crops activities
• Convenes monthly meetings with sub-center heads for planning and reporting in order to ensure integrated implementation of crops activities.
• Liaises with stakeholders to sensitize them on sub-sectoral developments to facilitate consistency, mutual support and synchronic implementation of crops programmes.

5.   PREPARATION OF SECTIONAL BUDGET

• Prepares the overall sub-sectional budget annually to ensure that all sub- sectional programs and projects are funded accordingly and implemented smoothly.
• Negotiates and justifies co-operatives budget at the divisional budget discussion in order to secure the necessary funds to finance sub-sectional activities.
• Recommends the review of the sub-sectional budget to the divisional head whenever the need arises to realign it with the changes in the sectional business plan to facilitate the implementation of the critical programs and activities within the section.

COMPENSABLE FACTORS

JOB SPECIFICATION

1.1  Education and training

• Diploma in General Agriculture/ Diploma in Agricultural Education OR
• Certificate in General Agriculture

1.2       Experience

Three years’ work experience for certificate holders.

1.3       Other necessary Knowledge and skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Conflict management skills
• Interpretation and analysis skills
• Training Skills

2        RESPONSIBILITY2.1  For work of others

The incumbent will be responsible for the work of Livestock Attendants, Field Attendants, Wool Classers, Field Recorders, Grazing Control Supervisors, Forest Rangers, Stud grooms, Pack grooms, Farriers, Gabion Builders and Stockmen.

• For property

The incumbent is responsible for proper utilization and safekeeping of his or her office furniture and equipment.

• For budget and finance in general

The incumbent is responsible for timely provision of his/her annual budgetary requirements to the immediate supervisor.

2.4  For safety of others

The incumbent will be responsible for provision of protective clothing to his/her subordinates.

2.5  For effect of errors

The incumbent will be held responsible for work-related errors such as inappropriate utilization of office equipment and facilities.

3 COMPLEXITY

3.1               Authority for decision-making

The incumbent has authority to:

• Recommend on the capacity of stock for a certain area.
• Make recommendations of groups that may or may not be registered
• Authorizes the absence from duty of subordinates after establishing the genuity of reasons thereof
• Decides on the quantity and type of certain inputs to be used per area.

3.2               Problem solving

The job requires the incumbent to resolve work-related problems such as:

-power struggle between amongst the group members

-Illegal demand of fees for services rendered by subordinates for farmers

-Resolve conflicts among subordinates.

3.3               Supervision received

The incumbent is expected to work independently but reports monthly to his or her immediate supervisor.

3.4  Dexterity

This factor is not applicable in this job.

4        CONTACTS

The incumbent comes into contacts with the following officers/offices during the execution of duties: