Agriculture Specialist

Location: Sangamner

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…