Plant Production and Protection Assistant

Organizational Context

FAO Afghanistan is implementing resilience-building initiatives across all 34 provinces. These actions aim to protect agricultural livelihoods and ecosystems, enhance local food production and income, and preserve development gains by revitalizing rural markets. FAO provides humanitarian and non-humanitarian assistance to farmers and herders in agriculture, livestock, irrigation, and natural resources, aligning with the 2024 HNRP and UNSFA 2023-2027.

Job Purpose

The Plant Production and Protection Assistant will provide crucial support in seed production and variety development, alongside plant production and protection activities. This role involves the practical application of climate-smart agriculture approaches to enhance agricultural practices and outcomes. The incumbent will contribute to the overall goals of improving agricultural resilience and productivity within Afghanistan, ensuring that modern and sustainable techniques are integrated into the daily operations of seed and plant management programs.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and scientific assistance for the daily management of national variety trials and the variety maintenance program. Assist in developing work plans for data collection on seed procurement, processing, and quality assurance from private companies. Support the Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) with Variety for Cultivation and Use (VCU) and Distinctness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests for new variety releases and catalogue development. Aid in selecting optimal sites for Breeder, Foundation, and Certified Seed production and assist seed enterprises in producing sufficient quantities. Coordinate Seed Production Planning Workshops and ensure the adoption of best agronomic practices in field operations and post-harvest handling. Conduct internal quality assurance for seeds and support close coordination with the Seed Certification Directorate for inspections and testing. Manage seed storage to prevent deterioration and ensure effective delivery. Lead training for field personnel on seed production techniques and assist in forming and training Common Interest Groups (CIGs) on seed production, financial management, and business planning.

Work Experience

Four years of relevant experience in implementing agricultural or related programs. A minimum of two years must be within a UN or INGO setting, focusing on agriculture research or similar programs. A Bachelor's degree in agriculture or a related field is required.

Skills

Proficiency in Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Experience with UN or international organizations in agriculture is preferred. Independent work ability is preferred. Excellent knowledge of agriculture research, organization, and coordination skills are required. Strong ability to write clearly and conduct training in required languages is highly preferred. Experience in emergency conditions is preferred. Experience organizing stakeholder meetings and workshops. Strong command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel). Experience with research trials, seed production, variety development, plant protection, and climate change effects on agriculture. Liaison skills with local authorities.

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