GENERAL INFORMATION
TechnoServe is an international non-profit economic development organization that works with entrepreneurs people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are an organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. TechnoServe’s Sourcing for Growth Malt Barley Programme is a partnership with Meta Abo Brewery. The project is active in Southwest Shewa, Arsi and West Arsi Zones and helps smallholder farmers boost their incomes through improved malt barley production and market access.
We are now conducting on-farm trials to test three different malt barley varieties (Traveler, Feneka and Kolker) at 6 different locations in Arsi and West Arsi Zones. The objectives of the trials are to determine:
· the productivity of the three different malt barley varieties,
· the appropriate planting time of the varieties, and
· the optimal rate and time of nitrogen fertilizer rate for yield and desired quality of the malt barley.
I. PRIMARY PURPOSE
The Junior Researcher conducts malt barley trials at 6 different locations in Arsi and West Arsi Zones in cooperation with Kulumsa Research Center and Technoserve’s Project office in Assela from the initial to final phase of the trials. He/she will identify the trials objectives, methods, variables and other test parameters. The Junior Researcher will also develop a work plan to effectively monitor the activities related to the trials at field levels
II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· Bachelor degree in a relevant field – plant/crop sciences
· At least two years professional experience in agricultural research
· Strong planning skills and experience working to strict time-guidelines
· Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills
· Willingness to spend significant time in rural areas
· Excellent English oral & written presentation skills, and fluency in Oromiffaa language is required
· Computer literacy
· Experience in malt barley research, preferred