Organizational Setting
The position is located at the FAO Representation in Georgia. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Reporting Lines
The International Horticulture and Drip Irrigation System Specialist shall operate under the overall responsibility of FAO Representative in Georgia, direct supervision of the ENPARD Coordinator and in close collaboration with the rest of the ENPARD team and other colleagues in the FAO Office in Georgia.
Technical Focus
Drip Irrigation/ Vegetable Production
Tasks and responsibilities
- Support the Extension Program on Vegetable Production- crop diversification (broccoli, lettuce, carrot and potato) production in open field, building capacity of Extension Staff, Interns and ICC Staff from MEPA through trainings.
- Support in the training on Seedling Production and other Basic Practices like integrated weed management.
- Support the Extension Program on Drip Irrigation System Design and Installation- capacity building of Extension Staff, Interns, Private sector and ICC Staff from MEPA
Concrete outputs and activities
To prepare the content and carry out the following trainings including theoretical and field days:
Crop Diversification
- Including the following crops: Broccoli, Lettuce, Carrot and Potato.
- The basic practices topic should include the following: Crop planning, environmental considerations, phytosanitary considerations, cultural practices, irrigation, crop nutrition, and others relevant to reach profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Seedling production
- include the following topics:
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Medium for growth
- Disinfection
- Sowing and management
- Structures
- Fertilization
- Plant selection-removals
Herbicides (safe use in agriculture)
- Theoretical training on molecules- concept of MoA, Selectivity, correct spraying, etc.
- Practical training in field on herbicides
Drip Irrigation
- Drip Irrigation System involving Design and Installation- theoretical and practical
- Drip irrigation -components
- Drip irrigation – Management and maintenance
- Crop nutrition – principles
- Introduction to Drip Irrigation Design
- Field practices (hands on training)
Each of the trainings should be oriented to an audience with university or technical agronomic knowledge who should transmit the knowledge to farmers
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- At least advanced university degree in Horticulture or similar
- 10-15 years of experience in vegetable production, plant protection, crop nutrition, IPM and developing training guidelines (strong field experience on broccoli, lettuce, carrot, potato and other temperate high value crops).
- Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages.
FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Selection Criteria
- M.Sc. or PhD in Horticulture or similar
- 10-15 years of experience in vegetable production, plant protection, crop nutrition, IPM and developing training guidelines (strong field experience on broccoli, lettuce, carrot, potato and other temperate high value crops).
- 10 years experience on irrigation and preferably training others in this topic
- Good presentation skills
- Experiencing training agriculture professionals
- Fluent in English
