Agricultural Innovation Assistant, HortiNigeria Program - Consultancy at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a multinational and an independent non-profit organization with over 45 years of experience in profitable and sustainable crop production approaches by combining sound research and innovative technologies in integrated soil fertility management, better climate adaptation and sustainable natural resource management practices, including integrated pest management approaches and development of inclusive market systems resilience. IFDC is market leader in agro-inputs and smallholder farmers’ productivity optimization in Nigeria and many other developing countries in Africa and Asia. As a result, IFDC has over the years built a solid network of agro-input producers, dealers, farmers, farmer-based organizations, off-takers and processors in Nigeria and around the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Agricultural Innovation Assistant, HortiNigeria Program - Consultancy

Job ID: 20121093
Location: IFDC Field Office, Ibadan, Oyo
Type of Contract: Full Time, on a consultancy contract for an initial period of six (6) months renewable
Expected Start Date: July 24, 2023
Program: HortiNigeria
Reports Directly To: The Lead, Innovation and Regional Diversification

HortiNigeria Program Background

• IFDC and its consortium partners have secured funding from EKN Nigeria to implement a transformational horticultural project in Nigeria by introducing innovative, sustainable and profitable horticultural productivity and resilient market system value chain approaches leading to a sustainable transition of Nigeria’s food system; thus, from a system based on food imports, low productivity and depletion of natural resources, to an integrated sustainable food system, capable of providing sufficient, healthy and nutritious food to a growing (urban) population.
• HortiNigeria targets only the domestic markets, where it focuses on tomato, okra, onion and pepper value chains, with a view to boosting the productivity and income of 60,000 smallholder farmers (50% youth and 40% women), sustainably expanding cultivated land by 15,000 hectares, promoting innovations and regional diversifications to reduce seasonal risks facing 2,000 farmers, increasing 50 agro-SMEs’ access to finance, enhancing sector coordination and facilitating 200 business-to-business linkages in the four states of Kaduna, Kano, Ogun and Oyo.
• The program has 4 main components and of which the main focus will be on component 2: Piloting production systems innovation and regional diversification in South-West Nigeria (Ogun and Oyo): This component is focusing on growing overall production volumes, incomes of farmers and reduce the risk and impact of seasonality through piloting of innovative production systems in Ogun and Oyo states, offering proximity to Lagos markets.
• Thus, under this component, IFDC and its consortium members are seeking to develop pilots that are commercially viable and environmentally sustainable leveraging on locally adapted solutions and technologies that mitigate production challenges and reduce production cost.

The Role

• The Agricultural Innovation Assistant will become an active member of the HortiNigeria team, Component 
• As an agricultural innovation assistant, the role is to contribute to the successful implementation of innovations, especially focusing on good agricultural practices and data management. You will be working alongside members of the team in Nigeria and in the Netherlands.

Specific Role

• S/he will support the Innovation and Regional Diversification lead in agronomic practices in the demo/trial fields and ensure all relevant agronomic steps as indicated in the innovation protocols are adhered to by the IBSS, BCs and the Coaches.
• Support in safeguarding and curating technical data collected on the innovation’s pilots.
• Support Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the delivery of innovation protocols to IBSS and the Entrepreneurial Hubs.
• Support the Innovation and Regional Diversification lead in assisting IBSS and BCs in establishing innovation demonstration/trial plots.
• Conduct qualitative interviews on various issues (i.e. training approach deployed or quality of knowledge transferred).
• Help organize field and/or training days, including farmers’ mobilization.
• Carry other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of B.Sc in any of the Agronomy, Crop Protection / Production, Agricultural Extension & Rural Development or related field.
• 2 - 3 years experience and a proven track record of excellent performance in Horticulture related agronomic activities.
• Ability to speak Yoruba language.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: Interested candidates should submit their CV and Cover Letter.