GreenPath Food
Job Description - Agronomist
Permaculture Pilot Project in Ethiopia with smallholder farmers
Background
Ethiopia is an East African country with vast agricultural potential and a large farmer base. 85 percent of the
country's 90 million people are smallholder farmers, with average land sizes below 2 hectares. Crop yields are
still far below the rest of the world, and there is high potential for improvement. Moreover, Ethiopia suffers from
a high degree of topsoil erosion due to its topography, heavy rainfall and land management techniques. Most
farmers are subsistence farmers, and what little harvest is taken to market is sold in markets with poor
transparency and fluctuating prices.
GreenPath Food is social enterprise that aims to teach farmers sustainable agriculture techniques that increase
crop yields sustainably, and then works with farmers on the post-harvest supply chain to ensure that prices
farmers obtain are fair and stable.
In 2014, GreenPath is planning a pilot with 20-30 farmers in the Butajira Woreda of Ethiopia (130 kilometers
southwest of Addis Ababa) to test both the yield impact of permaculture techniques as well as the GreenPath
operational model. The organization is currently constructing an elite agronomy team that is driven and
experienced in sustainable agriculture implementation, to lead and manage this pilot.
Position Summary
The Agronomist will be the enterprise's primary contact with GreenPath's partner farmers, building a strong
relationship, providing general agronomic support, training farmers on new techniques and implementing these
techniques alongside farmers. The Agronomist will report on the farmers' progress to the Agronomy Team
Leader. The position will require a high amount of travel throughout the area where partner farmers live. While
visiting farmers, the Agronomist will work alongside them on a nearly daily basis and for up to 6 hours per day.
The Agronomist will be responsible for encouraging significant behavior change through education and
demonstration. This will include both actively promoting certain behaviors and discouraging others, leveraging
relationships with individual farmers and the broader community.
The Agronomist will need to be creative, a true problem-solver and eager to not accept the status quo.
Term
The term of the consultancy will run from August 15th to February 15th for a period of six months. There will
likely be an option for a 3 month extension. Should the pilot prove to be successful, there is high potential for
long-term employment. These dates are approximate and subject to change. Dates are somewhat flexible
should the ideal candidate have any specific circumstances that need to be considered.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
1. Build trust and understanding with partner farmers
2. Physically work alongside GreenPath partner farmers for several hours each day to impart knowledge as
well as build a substantial relationship, through an apprenticeship model
3. Collect and report data on the status of each farmer
4. Analyze the success of each farmer and propose solutions for addressing any shortfalls
5. Tactfully and strategically encourage preferred agriculture practices and discourage other practices
Desired Qualifications
1. At least 5 years of experience working within the Ethiopian agriculture sector. Experience growing up
and/or working on a farm can be counted towards the 5 years, and is preferred to solely academic
experience
2. A bachelors degree or diploma in agriculture or a related field is preferred
3. An entrepreneurial mindset, and a willingness to take calculated risks and experiment
4. An understanding of African smallholder farming and experience in the Ethiopian context
5. Strong team player
6. A willingness to report issues early and often
7. The ability to distinguish what should be reported, based on guidelines from a manager
8. Excellent communication skills; comfort with working with a team based in multiple locations
9. Self-starter, motivated and proactive with solutions
10. Fluency in English and Amharic is essential. Fluency in Gurage is preferred
11. A desire to learn, build relationships, be creative and have fun on the job!
Compensation
Compensation is competitive. Should the pilot be successful, there is high-potential for long-term employment in
a commercial operation and incentive-based compensation.
Applying
To apply please email eden@greenpathfood.com with a 2-page CV (strict maximum) and a one-page cover
letter explaining why you are particularly suited for this role
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