Salam Kisan Hiring For Development Officer at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Full Time

About Us

Salam Kisan is a tech-enabled end-to-end agriculture platform that provides data-driven insights to increase productivity and profitability for farmers. 

Vision: Driving rural communities towards resilience and sustainability.

Mission: Transcending agriculture by bridging the fragmented agriculture value chain with data-driven insights, artificial intelligence, and end-to-end products and services. 

Location

Satara, Sangali, Ahmadnagar, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Pune, Nagpur

Job Title

Development Officer 

Job Description

Development Officer typically involves coordinating and facilitating agricultural development initiatives within a specific geographic area or cluster. The main objective is to promote collaboration among farmers, agribusinesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access, and foster sustainable agricultural practices. Here is a detailed job description for an Agriculture Cluster Officer:

Responsibilities

Data Collection and Analysis: Collect, compile, and analyse relevant data and information related to agriculture in the cluster. Monitor and evaluate the impact of agricultural interventions and initiatives. Use data to inform decision-making, identify challenges, and propose solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Farmer Engagement and Support: Engage with farmers and farmer groups within the cluster, providing technical assistance, guidance, and support to address their specific needs. Promote the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, good agricultural practices, and efficient farm management techniques.

Community Outreach and Awareness: Conduct awareness campaigns, workshops, and field demonstrations to disseminate agricultural best practices, climate-smart agriculture techniques, and sustainable farming methods. Engage with local communities to promote the importance of agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability.

Cluster Coordination: Serve as the focal point for coordinating and facilitating agricultural activities within the assigned cluster. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, farmer groups, agricultural associations, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector organizations.

Agricultural Development Planning: Develop and implement agricultural development plans and strategies for the cluster, taking into consideration the unique characteristics of the area, available resources, and the needs and aspirations of local farmers and communities.

Capacity Building and Training: Identify capacity gaps among farmers and stakeholders in the cluster and design training programs to enhance their knowledge and skills in areas such as crop production techniques, post-harvest management, farm management, marketing, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Collaboration and Networking: Foster collaboration and networking among different stakeholders within the cluster to promote knowledge sharing, resource mobilization, and joint initiatives. Facilitate the formation of farmer cooperatives, producer groups, or associations to strengthen collective bargaining power and promote shared learning.

Market Linkages: Facilitate access to markets for farmers by establishing linkages with agricultural buyers, processors, exporters, and other market actors. Identify market opportunities and help farmers in the cluster improve their product quality, value-added processing, and market intelligence.

Policy Advocacy: Advocate for favourable agricultural policies and regulations that support the development of the agriculture sector within the cluster. Collaborate with government agencies and policymakers to address policy constraints, improve access to credit, inputs, and infrastructure, and promote an enabling environment for agricultural development.

Project Management: Manage and oversee agricultural development projects or initiatives within the cluster, ensuring timely implementation, budget management, and monitoring of project activities. Prepare project reports, progress updates, and financial statements as required.

Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, including government officials, development agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and the private sector. Collaborate on joint initiatives, seek funding opportunities, and share knowledge and experiences for the benefit of the cluster’s agricultural development.

Reporting and Documentation: Prepare regular reports, including progress reports, impact assessments, and success stories, to document the achievements and challenges of the agricultural development activities within the cluster. Maintain accurate records and documentation related to projects, activities, and outcomes.

Qualification

Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree with at least 3-5 years of experience in agriculture, agronomy, agricultural economics, rural development, or a related field is often preferred.

Knowledge of Agriculture: A strong understanding of agricultural practices, crop production techniques, post-harvest management, and sustainable farming methods is essential. Knowledge of local agricultural systems, climate conditions, and regional farming practices is advantageous.

Project Management Skills: Experience or knowledge in project management is valuable for planning, implementing, and monitoring agricultural development initiatives within the cluster. Skills in project design, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting are beneficial.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for effectively engaging with farmers, stakeholders, and community members. The ability to convey technical information in a clear and understandable manner, facilitate meetings and workshops, and build relationships with diverse groups of people is important.

Data Collection and Analysis: Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting agricultural data and information is valuable for monitoring and evaluating the impact of interventions and making data-driven decisions. Knowledge of data collection methods, statistical analysis, and data management tools is beneficial.

Agricultural Extension and Training: Experience or knowledge in agricultural extension methods and adult education is advantageous. The ability to design and deliver training programs, conduct demonstrations, and provide technical assistance to farmers is beneficial.

Market and Value Chain Knowledge: Understanding of agricultural market dynamics, value chains, and market-oriented agriculture is valuable for promoting market linkages and enhancing farmers’ access to markets. Knowledge of market analysis, marketing strategies, and value-added processing is advantageous.

Policy and Advocacy: Familiarity with agricultural policies, regulations, and government programs is beneficial. The ability to engage in policy advocacy, collaborate with government agencies, and contribute to policy discussions is advantageous.

Computer Skills: Proficiency in computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data management software, is often required. Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS), statistical analysis software, or agricultural software tools can be beneficial.

Language Skills: Proficiency in the Marathi language or dialect spoken within the cluster is advantageous for effective communication with farmers and community members. Additional language skills, particularly English, may be required depending on the context and scope of the position.

Remuneration

Best as per industry standards – Based on experience and performance evaluation during an interview

Communication Details

Qualified candidates can send their resumes in confidence to [email protected]