Consultant/Agronomist
- Vacancies
- Announcer: USAID REAP
- Date of Announcement: 31.03.2016
- Deadline: 18.05.2016
- Link: http://jobs.ge/111539/
Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production Activity in Georgia
Farm Service Center Agronomist Assessment
Background
USAID/Georgia’s Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP) is a five year, $19.5 million program that is designed to increase income and employment in rural areas by delivering firm-level investment and technical assistance to expand the operation of existing smallholder farmers and rural enterprises. The project facilitates the entry of new agribusinesses and input suppliers, including machinery service providers, storage facilities, sorting/grading centers, and small and medium processors to improve the availability of high-quality inputs and services, and strengthen markets for agricultural goods and services.
Utilizing a $6 million matching grant fund, REAP invested in 70 agribusinesses to launch new profit centers, upgrade their equipment and improve their operational efficiencies which will enable the companies to increase their purchases of raw material and provide additional services to smallholders. Among REAP’s investments are 29 Farm Service Centers (FSCs) that serve as one-stop shops for smallholder farmers where they can purchase high quality inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. In addition to providing inputs, each FSC provides private extension services to smallholders through employed agronomists at the FSC and through hosting theoretical and practical trainings on a demonstration plot. On average, FSC serves more than 7,000 farmers each year and it is essential that employed agronomists are current with modern and best agricultural practices.
Objectives
Farm Service Center Agronomist Assessment
Background
USAID/Georgia’s Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP) is a five year, $19.5 million program that is designed to increase income and employment in rural areas by delivering firm-level investment and technical assistance to expand the operation of existing smallholder farmers and rural enterprises. The project facilitates the entry of new agribusinesses and input suppliers, including machinery service providers, storage facilities, sorting/grading centers, and small and medium processors to improve the availability of high-quality inputs and services, and strengthen markets for agricultural goods and services.
Utilizing a $6 million matching grant fund, REAP invested in 70 agribusinesses to launch new profit centers, upgrade their equipment and improve their operational efficiencies which will enable the companies to increase their purchases of raw material and provide additional services to smallholders. Among REAP’s investments are 29 Farm Service Centers (FSCs) that serve as one-stop shops for smallholder farmers where they can purchase high quality inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. In addition to providing inputs, each FSC provides private extension services to smallholders through employed agronomists at the FSC and through hosting theoretical and practical trainings on a demonstration plot. On average, FSC serves more than 7,000 farmers each year and it is essential that employed agronomists are current with modern and best agricultural practices.
Objectives
The objective of this consultancy is to conduct an assessment of the FSC’s agronomists and to make recommendations for future workforce development and continuing education priorities and activities. Based on the information gathered in the assessment, REAP will look to develop a request for proposals to hire an educational institution(s) to customize and deliver training courses to FSC agronomists.
source:jobs.ge