Agribusiness adviser
Many placements involve working with small community organisations, local NGOs or local government ministries to help local farmers increase their agricultural productivity, quality of produce, and profit margin.
You could be supporting farmers to form co-operatives, develop strategies for lowering production costs or add value to their produce. By providing advice to improve their marketing techniques and source alternative markets the farmers will increase profits and ensure a more sustainable living.
You’ll be qualified to degree or diploma level, with at least two years experience of agricultural economics, agricultural business development or farm management. You’ll have excellent business expertise, as well as report writing and training skills. Micro-finance development experience is desirable.
You could be working in countries like Malawi, Ghana, Guyana, Cambodia, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Example placements
Farmer-based organisation officer, Langbensi
Ghana
More than 65 per cent of Ghana’s population depends on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. However, Ghana’s agriculture sector is plagued with a number of problems including unpredictable climatic conditions, lack of support, and limited market access. The liberalisation of the Ghanaian economy has created competition in the market, making it difficult for local farmers to compete equitably or meet the rising cost of production annually. This has resulted in a decline in the agricultural labour force and incomes for most communities, and consequently, high levels of poverty and food insecurity.
More than 50 per cent of the poor in Ghana are food crop farmers, and more than 70 per cent in the Northern region. VSO is supporting poor and disadvantaged farmers and rural groups across five regions in Ghana to achieve income security, improve access to and enhance growth of markets for agricultural and livestock produce to benefit these disadvantaged, rural communities and to add value to agricultural produce that will support this initiative.
As a farmer-based organisation officer, you’ll help to build the technical and managerial competencies of these disadvantaged farmers and rural groups in both cultivating crops and rearing livestock, as well as identifying and marketing the right agricultural produce for markets.
What does the role involve?
- Facilitating the development of a marketing strategy and marketing plans for livestock and crop farmers
- Facilitating effective business links with markets, farmer groups and communities
- Providing business development training
- Facilitating local market chain development for livestock and agriculture produce
- Identifying local agribusiness or income generating projects as alternative livelihoods
- Monitoring and evaluating progress
- Assisting on information management systems where required.
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll need a degree in agronomy, agriculture or a related field. You’ll have agribusiness skills and at least five years' practical experience in marketing agricultural or related products in livestock and farm produce. Experience of community development and/or teaching is also desirable. You’ll need to have good communications, project management and monitoring and evaluation skills. You’ll also need to be a self-starter, flexible and adaptable, as you’ll be working with limited resources. You’ll also be willing to ride a motorbike as you’ll be working in remote rural communities (full training is given).
And the rest...
Ghana is located on North Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, bordering the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo. It is a land of plains and low plateaus, covered by rainforests in the west and magnificent Lake Volta in the east.
Langbensi is located in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Transport links are good and frequent from Langbesi to Bolga, over an hour away, or Tamale, two hours away. The market in Langbensi sells essential food such as yam, beans, tomatoes, onions and seasonal fruit. There are also kiosks in town that sell basic supplies. There is a greater variety of shops in Bolga and Tamale. Both have larger markets and shops and are serviced by local bus routes.
We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We’ll provide you with extensive training before your placement and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we’ll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
Rice production specialist, Beira
Mozambique
VSO is working towards reducing disadvantage and poverty and promoting equitable and sustainable economic and social development of poor and disadvantaged communities in Mozambique. VSO is working in partnership with the Provincial Directorate in the Sofala Province in Mozambique, whose main goal is improving food and income security through sustainable natural resources, increasing people’s access to and participation in markets and reducing absolute poverty. Initiatives to co-ordinate rural development activities and improve agriculture productivity, industry and commercialisation are also being developed.
The government of Mozambique is actively engaged in the production of rice and Sofala province is no exception. Small farmers have a long tradition of rice production, however there is still a lack of improved techniques. As a rice production specialist, you’ll be working directly with the department of Agriculture in Beira helping to improve rice production in the Sofala Province.
What does the role involve?
- Supporting the implementation of the rice production programme
- Enhancing capacities of technicians in rice production techniques
- Working closely with colleagues in the Agriculture department and with appropriate stakeholders related to rice production
- Assisting and support the development of monitoring and evaluation plans for the implementation of rice production programmes
- Assisting in preparing relevant rice projects and plans for the development of the rice market for small and medium farmers
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll have at least five years’ relevant experience in developing, implementing and managing rice production programmes, with a solid knowledge of rice production and processing techniques. A degree in agronomy, agriculture or a related field is essential, and you’ll have good IT skills including MS Word and Excel. Training skills and experience is also essential as you’ll be training your colleagues in rice production and improving crop production methods. You’ll be a flexible and adaptable professional and will be prepared to learn Portuguese to a basic level.
And the rest...
Mozambique is located in South East Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the East, Tanzania to the North, Malawi and Zambia to the North West, Zimbabwe to the West and Swaziland and South Africa to the South West.
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique and is a regional centre for many organisations. Beira is cosmopolitan, and there is a community of expatriates from all over the world either working in business, development projects or as missionaries. The city is pleasant and has many colonial era buildings, wide tree-lined avenues and an impressive seafront. There are also a considerable number of cafés with Internet access.
We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We’ll provide you with extensive training before your placement and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we’ll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
