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Hiring for: Agriculture Expert (FPCs) – 2 Positions

Location: Sangamner (Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra) and Aurad (Bidar, Karnataka) India (On-site)


A little bit about who we are

Established in 1993, WOTR is a nationally recognized development organization working at the intersection of climate resilience, natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, women's empowerment, and institutional development. WOTR collaborates with communities, government agencies, research institutions, civil society organizations, and private-sector partners to enhance the resilience and prosperity of vulnerable rural communities. Over the past three decades, WOTR has implemented and supported large-scale development programmes across India, contributing significantly to climate adaptation, watershed development, farmer institution strengthening, and sustainable livelihood enhancement.


ProRISE Phase II is a strategic initiative focused on strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) as climate-resilient, market-oriented agribusiness enterprises that enhance farmer incomes, promote sustainable agriculture, empower women, and strengthen rural economies.


Who are we looking for?

WOTR is on the lookout for an Agriculture Expert who will be responsible for providing technical guidance and support to the project team and the partner FPCs on various aspects of the project components, such as sustainable agriculture, capacity building and training, ecosystem-based production system, credit linkage building and skilling the human resources for the FPCs. The Agriculture Experts will also be involved in promoting sustainable farming systems, efficient water management, climate-resilient agriculture practices, and value chain development through different technologies and practices.


Position Overview

The Agriculture Expert will work closely with FPCs, farmers, and project teams to promote sustainable, market-oriented, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. The role will focus on supporting crop planning, farmer capacity building, certification initiatives, quality production, technology adoption, and implementation of regenerative agriculture practices at the field level.

The position requires extensive field engagement and hands-on support to farmers and FPC management teams to improve productivity, quality, market readiness, and farmer incomes.


Key Responsibilities

Market-Oriented Crop Planning & Farmer Mobilization

  • Support implementation of demand-driven and market-oriented crop planning at FPC level.
  • Facilitate farmer mobilization for cluster-based production and aggregation programmes.
  • Assist in preparing seasonal crop plans aligned with buyer requirements and market opportunities.
  • Promote adoption of recommended production practices among member farmers.
  • Support seed production and seed multiplication initiatives undertaken by FPCs.


Sustainable & Climate-Resilient Agriculture

  • Promote sustainable, regenerative, and climate-resilient farming practices among member farmers.
  • Support implementation of:
  • Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
  • Water-efficient farming practices
  • Soil health improvement interventions
  • Conduct field demonstrations and farmer awareness programmes on sustainable agriculture.


Certification & Traceability Support

  • Support implementation of certification programmes such as:
  • PGS Organic
  • NPOP Organic
  • India GAP / Global GAP
  • Residue-Free Production Systems
  • Assist farmers in maintaining records and documentation required for certification.
  • Coordinate with certification agencies and auditors during inspections and audits.
  • Support development and implementation of Internal Control Systems (ICS).
  • Facilitate traceability and farm-level data collection.


Input Management & Crop Advisory

  • Provide technical guidance on:
  • Fertilizer management
  • Biofertilizers and bio-inputs
  • Crop protection practices
  • Pest and disease management
  • Seed selection and quality management
  • Support FPCs in promoting appropriate and cost-effective input packages.
  • Facilitate timely dissemination of crop advisories and weather-based recommendations.


Agritech & Digital Agriculture

  • Promote adoption of digital agriculture tools and farm advisory applications.
  • Support use of digital systems for:
  • Farm data collection
  • Farmer registration
  • Crop monitoring
  • Traceability
  • Advisory dissemination
  • Assist farmers and FPC teams in utilizing technology-based solutions for improving productivity and quality.


Capacity Building & Extension Services

  • Organize and facilitate:
  • Farmer trainings
  • Exposure visits
  • Field demonstrations
  • Farmer Field Schools
  • Awareness campaigns
  • Develop simple technical materials and advisories for farmers.
  • Support knowledge-sharing and adoption of best practices.


Coordination with FPCs & Stakeholders

  • Work closely with:
  • FPC CEOs and management teams
  • Agribusiness Officers
  • Farmer groups and producer organizations
  • Agriculture departments
  • KVKs and agricultural universities
  • Certification agencies
  • Input suppliers and technology providers
  • Facilitate convergence with government schemes and agricultural development programmes.


Monitoring, Documentation & Reporting

  • Maintain records related to:
  • Farmer outreach
  • Training programmes
  • Crop demonstrations
  • Certification activities
  • Adoption of technologies
  • Crop performance
  • Collect field data and prepare regular progress reports.
  • Document success stories, case studies, and best practices.


Desired Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Soil Science, Agricultural Extension, or related disciplines.
  • Additional training in Organic Agriculture, GAP, Climate-Smart Agriculture, or Sustainable Agriculture will be preferred.


Experience Required

  • Minimum 5 years of experience in agriculture development, extension services, FPO/FPC promotion, sustainable agriculture, or rural development programmes.
  • Experience working with farmer groups, producer organizations, FPCs, cooperatives, or agricultural development projects.
  • Exposure to certification systems such as PGS, Organic Certification, GAP, or residue-free farming will be preferred.
  • Understanding of agricultural value chains and market-oriented production systems will be an advantage.


Essential Skills and Competencies

  • Strong technical knowledge of crop production and agronomy
  • Understanding of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture
  • Farmer training and extension skills
  • Community mobilization and facilitation abilities
  • Basic understanding of certification systems and traceability
  • Documentation and reporting skills
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently in field conditions
  • Proficiency in MS Office and digital data collection tools
  • Fluency in English, Hindi, and local language
  • Willingness to travel extensively across project locations

How to Apply: Send your application to careers@wotr.org with the subject line ‘Agriculture Expert’ and fill the https://forms.gle/egH7UZre4tToLkwSA