Job Description
Within the agricultural sector, there are three main types of role: farming, agricultural managers, and agricultural advisers/ developers.
Farmers daily duties usually consist of:
Agricultural managers often also participate in farming duties, but also take part in the business of the farm by:
Agricultural developers and advisers generally work further from the field, developing improvements for the agricultural sector. Roles include:
Within the agricultural sector, there are three main types of role: farming, agricultural managers, and agricultural advisers/ developers.
Farmers daily duties usually consist of:
- Tending to livestock and/or crops.
- Ploughing
- Planting and harvesting crops
- Carrying out maintenance and repair works on vehicles, equipment, fences, gates, and walls.
Agricultural managers often also participate in farming duties, but also take part in the business of the farm by:
- Managing farm workers
- Monitoring budgets
- Devising strategies for harvesting or breeding
- Visiting farmers markets and selling produce
Agricultural developers and advisers generally work further from the field, developing improvements for the agricultural sector. Roles include:
- Researching and identifying the main constraints to improving farming output.
- Improving the capacity of farmer groups to improve production through farm technology.
- Planning, monitoring and implementation of projects on farms and multiplication plots.
- Training of farmers.
Skills matching
To follow a career in farming and general farm management, it is advantageous to have the following skills:
Agricultural developers and advisers in addition should have the following skills:
To follow a career in farming and general farm management, it is advantageous to have the following skills:
- High work ethic and willingness to work long hours.
- Physical stamina and strength.
- Mechanical skills and the ability to fix machinery and equipment.
- Teamwork skills.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to plan and manage sales.
Agricultural developers and advisers in addition should have the following skills:
- Analytical and reporting skills.
- Problem solving ability.
- Oral and written communication skills in Kiswahili and English.
- Proactive and innovative with the ability to work with minimum supervision and achieve impact and results.
- Social and networking skills, with the ability to engage with government, the private sector and civil society.
Requirements
Farming and farm managers do not require any academic qualifications, but would be advantaged by experience on the job. To receive a post in agricultural advising, employers generally require a bachelor's degree in agricultural technologies or an equivalent degree. Further, employers look for an understanding of producer group dynamics, local market dynamics, agricultural processing, and marketing.
Farming and farm managers do not require any academic qualifications, but would be advantaged by experience on the job. To receive a post in agricultural advising, employers generally require a bachelor's degree in agricultural technologies or an equivalent degree. Further, employers look for an understanding of producer group dynamics, local market dynamics, agricultural processing, and marketing.