Meki Batu fruit and vegetables growers cooperative union, hereafter abbreviated as MBCU, is looking to urgently hire a very well experienced project coordinator for its Global Good Agricultural Practices Certification pilot project.The aim of the pilot project is to get selected primary cooperatives improve their horticultural production methods from farm to market so that they comply with the GGAP standard and obtain certification by an independent certifying body. If implemented well and consistently, the compliance is believed to enhance various benefits for the farmers including better market access and prices for their produce. More importantly, in addition to the GGAP certification the IDH-ISLA project aims to ensure that smallholders use of agrochemicals and water improves to save Lake Ziway and all other water resources in the Meki-Batu area through this project and that productivity of farmers also enhanced through proper soil and water management.
Three key organizations are supporting MBCU in this GGAP project including IDH-the Sustainable Trade Initiative (a Dutch NGO), the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency as well as the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association.
The senior plant protection post will be based in Meki or Adami Tulu town. The senior plant protection expert is expected to work closely with the MBCU GGAP team (as described in the Quality Management System Manual).
The post will be contract based and will be renewed on 6 months basis depending on project and the expert’s performance.
Responsibilities
It is known that the use of agrochemicals for plant protection particularly in the CRV by smallholders is unregulated and often improper in terms of amount, type and timing of use. This can have serious implications for food safety but also high cost for farmers in terms of their spending on agro chemicals. Hence, the responsibilities of the senior plant protection expert will include:
Requirements