Agricultural Production Advisor at the Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD)

Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD) - The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a credit from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the implementation of Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

The VCDP will address the constraints along the cassava and rice Value Chains in Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Taraba, Niger and Ogun States. The programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components viz: Agricultural Market Development; Smallholder Productivity Enhancement: and Programme Coordination and Management.

The specific objective of the Programme is to enhance on a sustainable basis, the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the participating states.

For effective programme take-off, the FMARD is constituting a National Programme Management Unit (NPMU) at the Programme Headquarters in Abuja. Consequently, part of the proceeds of the VCDP credit will be applied to engage the services of the following officer at the Programme Headquarters, Abuja.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Agricultural Production Advisor (APA)

Location: Abuja

Responsibilities

• The Agricultural Production Advisor will be responsible for the overall management of the activities related In productivity improvement of Smallholder farmers.

Specific Duties:

• Provide guidance to the Agricultural Production/FFS and Rural institutions and Gender Mainstreaming Officers at state level in
  periodic meetings convened by the National Programme Coordinator and during periodic field visits.
• Liaise With other relevant programmes and technical departments in the public sector such as the Federal Fertilizer Department, the National Agricultural Seed Council, the National Root and Tuber Crop Research Institute, the National Cereals Research Center.
• Liaise with any other stakeholder such as IITA, Africa Rice, seed companies, agro-dealers at the Federal level.
• Design and set up the overall distribution scheme of certified seeds/improved cassava cuttings, fertilizers, and herbicides as
  well as of equipment at state and LGA level.
• Manage the procurement procedure of fertilizers, foundation seeds and cassava cuttings, certified seeds and improved cassava cuttings, herbicides and equipment(threshers, power tillers, seed processing plant. sprayers).
• Oversee the contracting of the service provider responsible for implementing the activity pertaining to, promoting and
  disseminating sustainable agricultural practices through the FFS approach.
• Manage the procurement procedure of service providers for FOs' capacity building.
• Consolidate state progress reports and contribute to the drafting of periodic project progress reports of the NPMU.
• Consolidate the state annual work plans and budgets for component2.
• Contribute to the design of TORs of impact evaluation, beneficiary assessment, mid-term review and final evaluation of the project.

Terms of Appointment:

• Two year contract, subject to renewal for a maximum of 6 years, based on performance.

Qualification and Experience

• Masters or Higher Level University Degree in Agronomy, Agriculture and other relevant discrpline.
• Minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience including at least 7 years in implementation of productivity enhancement projects using participatory approaches and gender mainstreaming.
• Proven record in the field of project implementation of productivity enhancement project.
• Good writing skills and computer literacy will be an advantage.

Application Closing Date
18th February, 2014.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to:

The Director,
Federal Department of Rural Development
No. 30 127, Algiers Street,
Beside PDP National Secretariat,
Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.

Note: 

• This position is open to serving public officers as well as other interested candidates.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications must bear the positions applied for, on the top right hand side of the envelopes.