Cassava Agronomist at IITA

IITA is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Our R4D is anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.

• Plan, lead, manage, and supervise all on-farm agronomic activities involving commercial cassava production in several states in Nigeria (Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Abia etc)
• Assist in implementing the Nigeria Cassava Transformation Agenda in the areas of stem distribution in 28 states and establishment of Demo and starch evaluation trials.
• Assist in coordinating private-sector (Cosmo Farmers, GAVA International etc.) and State (Kogi, Jigawa, and Ebonyi) led Cassava Value Chain Initiatives.
• Design and conduct on-farm Demonstration Trials on resources-use efficiency and cost of cassava root production. The latter compares mechanized and traditional methods of farming with a view to running a cost-benefit analysis of the 2 methods. Also expected to establish multiplication farms.
• Select, cluster, mobilize, and train farmers on best agronomic practices, identify efficient service providers, make regular monitoring and evaluation visits and organize field days.
• Assist in supervising the input-supply credit services for the farmers, and advise on the procurement of field materials/inputs through input dealers and service providers.
• Ensure the timely implementation of all field activities such as land preparation, sourcing of planting materials, weeding, fertilizer application, and harvesting.
• Supervise the collection of and analyses of all agronomic data, and write technical reports/scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to proposal development and resource mobilization.

• The candidate should have a PhD degree in agronomy from a recognized university.
• At least 8 years of post PhD experience in agronomy research.
• Excellent knowledge of English.
• Knowledge of farming systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa.
• Knowledge of the landscape of agricultural research institutions in the region.
• Staff leadership experience.
• Working experience in the CGIAR system is of advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, good ability to communicate with people in a multicultural setting; good verbal and written expression; good analytical and organizational skills; ability to take initiative.