Extension Officer

SUMMARY:
To encourage growers to use Umthombo Retention Scheme to keep enough funds to secure and apply ratoo

POSITION INFO:

Job Title: Extension Officer x5- Permanent 

Grade: C3

Reports To: Extension Manager

Department / Centre: Agric Operations- SSG Amatikulu and Felixton 

Main Purpose of the job: 

• Full responsibility to provide extension services to the growers at Mill area level
• To increase cane production and ensure the sustainability of small-scale growers through various cane development initiatives.
• Ensuring the best agronomic practice, cane quality management, cane delivery performance and compliance with legal requirement by growers and cooperatives.
• To have a close working relationship with all the key role players involved in the supply chain of growing sugarcane (growers, contractors, communal leadership structures and Sugar Industry stakeholders) using appropriate agronomic standards.

Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships

• Provide agronomic advice in cane growing and ensure the best agronomic practice by the small-scale growers.
• To encourage growers to use Umthombo Retention Scheme to keep enough funds to secure and apply ratoon management inputs on time.
• To facilitate the introduction of new & appropriate cane varieties by working with SASRI & Local P&D Team to promote new seed bed areas.
• To lead the basic principle of Agronomy, which includes soil sampling to determine crop nutrients required, correct land preparation before planting and weed control to promote vertical growth.
• To monitor and manage contractor performance to improve cane quality through reducing burn harvest to crush delays (BHTCD) and hauler allocations. To coordinate cane transport, adhere to allocations and ensure proper communication with the Mill Cane Supply Team.
• To use geographical information system (GIS) to administer and keep accurate data for grower cane dispositions, yields and cane deliveries in the “Crop Manager” system. Ensure that maps of cane supply areas are kept up to date.
• Maintain good stakeholder engagement and communication: facilitate grower days, workshops and feedback sessions onvarious aspects of farming and governance issues especially amongst co-operators.
• Assist in maintaining good governance and support to management to ensure sustainability for cooperatives in the mill area.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years Agriculture related Tertiary qualification
• Senior Certificate in Sugarcane from SASRI
• Training in Management courses
• More than 3 years of work experience in Sugar Industry, of which two years must have been spent in sugarcane agriculture
• Must be able to communicate in English and isiZulu
• Be a very good Team member
• A valid driver’s License with driving experience
• Be computer Literate

Required Competencies

• Operational excellence in Cane Growing
• Budget & Cost Control
• PLOC
• People Management
• Team Leadership
• Organizational & Environmental awareness