Call for consultancy service to hire international consultants to provide training to seed inspectors in the field of vegetable seed inspection and laboratory health testing at SNV

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Call for consultancy service to hire international consultants to provide training to seed inspectors in the field of vegetable seed inspection and laboratory health testing

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Employer: SNV

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Ethiopia - Remote - Ethiopia

Posted date: 11 months ago

Deadline: Submission date is over

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Company Description

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy, and WASH to local contexts. SNV has over 1250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organization that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and invest in operational excellence. In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation - by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organization and invest in making knowledge flow to and from the frontline.

For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org

About the project

Horti-LIFE project is sponsored by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by SNV in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). One of the objectives of Horti-LIFE III is strengthening seed multiplication systems for onions, seed potatoes, red peppers, and garlic.

The main constraints in onions, seed potatoes, red pepper, and garlic seed multiplication systems have been identified as:

• Limited availability of early-generation seed;
• Lack of expertise in vegetable seed inspection;
• Lack of market environment reduces incentives to maximize quality and quantity, and;
• Absence of proper postharvest and packing materials.

Training is needed so that inspectors can further develop their skills in detailed laboratory and field identification/inspection with special attention to seed-borne pests.

Seeds play a crucial role in agricultural production and income generation. The seed is an important way in which plant pathogens are introduced into new areas and survive from planting season to planting season. Seed disease is one of the most important biological constraints in seed production worldwide. It is recognized in recent agricultural science that seed health contains a significant economic benefit only if seed inspections are strengthened, and seed quality is ensured. The planting and disease prevention of seeds are directly related to the yield and quality of crops, and the early prevention and control of seed diseases comprise an important management measure. There is a need for rapid detection and identification of diseases, prevention and control strategies, strengthening disease prevention work, and ensuring the continued growth of agricultural production.

Many crops are severely impacted by seed diseases, resulting in lower production rates in the long run. To fill the skill and knowledge gaps, the Horti-LIFE III project is looking for hands-on experts who can bring sustainable change in the seed system by providing well-articulated practical training to seed inspectors.

Job Description

• Prepare curriculum and PowerPoint presentations for seed laboratory health test training.
• Prepare curriculum and PowerPoint presentations for field inspectors' training.
• Train the inspectors and agricultural government staff on seed-borne pest identification to adopt effective detection and identification methods, and formulate effective prevention and control strategies for onion, potato, garlic, and red pepper seed production.
• Prepare a pest guidebook

Qualifications

• BSc or above in the field of Horticulture
• 15 or more years of experience in the international plant seed inspection profession
• Proven experience in training inspectors on disease identifications and their treatments.
• Good knowledge of crop protection

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