Kentegra Pyrethrum Company Limited located in Nakuru is looking to recruit a Research and Development Agronomist.
This position will be located mostly in Turi.
Key roles for this position are:-
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Act as a liaison between research department and the field department regarding research products and processes dissemination and the field adoption.
- Setting-up pyrethrum demonstration fields at specified zones within the pyrethrum growing regions.
- Set-up and coordinate demos in approved field days, demo fields and agricultural shows
- Participate in collection of required plant, tissue or soil samples from specified farmer fields and all nurseries.
- Coordinate the delivery of all research samples to partner laboratories and research institutions.
- Prepare training modules and schedules.
- Rank, cluster and prioritize research issues for right cropping of pyrethrum.
- Design trial methodologies and layouts
- Train staff on data collection
- Provide technical support to the field Agronomists- Research outreach.
- Provide updates on the status of running research.
- Generate a list of all the research and development items/programs and the material requirements.
- Prepare impact assessment reports on issues relating disease and pest invasion.
- Generate analyzed reports on concluded trials.
- Identification and verification of all planting materials in our nurseries. (Mother Clones and other clones in our germplasm)
- Offer technical assistance and guidance of mother clones purification.
- Develop a DUS (Distinctiveness, Uniformity & Stability) data for all the existing mother clones and varieties.
- Identification and mapping of the geographical distribution of clonal material with farmers and getting them for trials and research.
- Guide the nursery team on an elaborate and targeted collection of pyrethrum plants with desirable characteristics from different farmer fields.
- Help in sourcing mother clones of interest that can be incorporated in our gene bank.
- Advice and guide on the steps for developing new and superior varieties.
- Act as a link to help in accessing scientific publications and other relevant pyrethrum research articles from relevant people and organizations.
- Lead the efforts in providing solutions that have hindered high production of flowers in the fields. (Agronomy practices, nutrition, pests and diseases)
- Develop and lead research protocols for the nurseries.
Qualifications and work experience required for this role
- Diploma or Degree in any agriculture related field from an accredited institution
- At least 2 years hands on work experience with small holder farmers
- Proven experience in research programs.
- Proven experience in farmer training
- Excellent Interpersonal and Communication skills.
- Experience in reporting skills.
- Excellent strategic, analytical, creative and presentation skills.
- Excellent decision making and organizational skills.
- Ability to plan, multi-task and manage time effectively.
- Motivated and self-driven.
- Have a valid 2 years Motorcycle Driving License.
- Proficiency in MS Office and database skills
- Proficiency with field data collection tools and systems
Please apply only if you fulfill the above credentials and send your application as one word/pdf document with the title Research & Development Officer to info@kentegrabiotech.com by 18th November 2022.
Applications will be reviewed on receipt.
Only successful applicants will be contacted.