Agronomist (Production)

Job Purpose: The successful candidate will provide direction and technical guidance on crop varieties, crop nutrition, crop protection (weed, pest and disease control) and irrigation to ensure long-term optimization of yield and cost of production.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implement sustainable agronomic practices with the objective of closing the gap between the actual and the attainable yield potentials for each field on each estate
• Support adoption and embedding of agreed best practices, frameworks, minimum standards and processes for agronomy
• Implement and manage sugar cane agronomic trials (fertilizers and crop protection) required by the head of agricultural optimisation as part of a continuous productivity initiative
• Formulate, communicate and monitor fertilizer, weed control and ripener programmes (including 3rd party contractor management)
• Manage Estate nursery fields, monitor seed quality, and ensure regular disease inspections are carried out
• Ensure all commercial and nursery fields are timeously surveyed for pests and diseases, and that their infestation levels and recommendations are communicated to the relevant parties
• Ensure all agronomic data is captured for trend analysis, reporting and decision making
• Support agronomic optimisation by adopting new technologies and methods and ensure continuous improvement by implementing best practices and conducting regular system checks
• Develop new SOPs per requirements and assure performance against agronomy-related SOPs
• Monitor trends to understand impact of adopted practices, and refine practices accordingly
• Provides agronomic advice to Growers
• Promote and adhere to Kilombero’s procedures, policies and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to SHERQ, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC)

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or equivalent
• 5 years’ experience in sugar cane agriculture
• Research orientated with experience in agronomic experiments, trial work and evaluation
• Good business acumen and agricultural expertise, with ability to anticipate, interpret and respond to changes impacting on functional area
• A formal business/commercial qualification would be an advantage
• Strong agriculture data analysis skills
• Proven track record within an ABFSugar Company, aligning with the company culture, is an added advantage

Terms of Service: The successful candidate will be engaged on a Permanent Contract.

Kilombero Sugar Company Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people with disability are highly encouraged to apply.