International Division News for August 2019 enews

International work could engender discovery-based research

As of the writing of this column, the contributing author and I are both on international assignments. In this column, you will notice there are several

opportunities to engage in international horticulture work with both small farm holders and large scale farmers. In addition to the diversity of scale,

international work is spread across a variety of themes. However, the engagement in international work will spawn new horticultural issues that

will need to be addressed. These new issues can be fertile grounds for discovery-based research that could involve collaborations with our

international horticulture partners.

International Opportunities for Horticulturists

Paid and Volunteer Opportunities

Partners of the Americas has an urgent request for a volunteer IPM &

Plant Disease Management Specialist for a project in Guyana. Because

most shadehouses in Guyana are open and easy to enter, producers find it

difficult to control pests and diseases, especially during the rainy season. An

F2F volunteer is requested to train shadehouse producers on how to identify

specific insect pest affecting vegetables and make the necessary

recommendation(s) to limit crop damage. It is expected that at the end of

this assignment, the hosts will be able to identify common insect pests that

affect vegetables in their shadehouses and implement environmentally

sustainable strategies to reduce damage. This assignment contributes to

broader goals and objectives of the Horticulture Production and Marketing

project by improving the productivity and reducing the incidence of pest

damages. For more information, or to apply for this position, please contact

Kelly McNally at either kmcnally@partners.net or at 202-524-6291.

FCG Sweden is the “new face” of the combined ORGUT and SIPU

International, representing more than 40 years of Swedish expertise in

international development. Building better livelihoods and developing regions

and countries has always been part of the vision of these organizations. FCG

Sweden is currently recruiting three (yes, 3) paid Junior experts (long

term) in horticulture value chain private sector development and

Cash Crops (Tea and Coffee) value chain private sector development

for an EU-funded Agri-Connect project in Tanzania. The overall objective of

the Programme “Agi-Connect: Supporting value chains for shared

prosperity” is to contribute to inclusive economic growth, promote private

sector development and job creation in the agricultural sector and to

increase food and nutrition security in Tanzania by promoting the

productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the tea, coffee and

horticultural sectors. The Technical Assistance Team (TAT) will assist

primarily the Ministry of Agriculture in mainland, the Ministry of Agriculture,

Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries in Zanzibar and other relevant

national and local institutions and actors along the value chain to improve

the sector enablers and business environment for the tea, coffee and

horticulture value chains, within the framework of the respective agricultural

development strategies. In addition, the TAT will provide overall coordination

of the Agri-Connect programme components and will lead programme

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Initiatives. If this opportunity interests

you, please visit https://www.fcgsweden.se/work-with-us/76 for more

information or to apply.

NCBA CLUSA is currently seeking a qualified farmer-to-farmer

candidate for the position of Cooperative Governance Volunteer

Specialist to support Asociación Cooperativa de Producción y

Comercialización Agropecuaria El Limón (ACOELI) based in Morazán, El

Salvador. This budding cooperative has multiple greenhouses where they

grow tomato, cucumber, hot pepper, cabbage and cilantro. Members have

recognized that the cooperative’s biggest weaknesses are poor organization,

administrative problems and poor understanding of governance. The

Cooperative Governance Volunteer is expected to provide a training to the

ACOELI board of directors on governance skills related to board meeting

moderation, board member roles, decision-making, and by-laws

reinforcement. It is desired that the volunteer also trains the board members

on finances and planning. The National Cooperative Business Association

CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the trade association for cooperative

businesses in the United States and an international development

organization. NCBA CLUSA provides cross-sector education, technical

assistance, and advocacy that helps co-ops thrive. For nearly 100 years,

NCBA CLUSA has sought to advance and protect cooperative enterprises,

highlighting the impact that cooperatives have in bettering the lives of

individuals and families. In the last 60 years, NCBA CLUSA has worked in

over 100 countries in the areas of food security, agricultural development,

strengthening of communities and farmer organizations, community-based

health, natural resources management, and empowerment of smallholder

farmers, women, and youth. The volunteer is expected to be in country for

two weeks. For more information about this opportunity, or to apply, please

visit https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/NCBACLUSA1/743999691911276-

farmer-to-farmer-f2f-cooperative-governance-volunteer

NCBA CLUSA is also currently seeking a qualified candidate for the

farmer-to-farmer position of Plant Propagation Volunteer Expert to

support Asociación de Mujeres Intibucanas Renovadas (AMIR), based in

Intibuca, Honduras. This organization, comprised of indigenous Lenca

women from the region have been successful in advocating women’s rights,

food safety, economic empowerment, leadership, as well as producing

organic fertilizers, processing fruits to create marmalades, sweets, etc. As

part of their economic empowerment objective, they want to teach their

members how to propagate vegetables, seed saving techniques, and good

agricultural practices in order to maximize profits. The selected candidate is

expected to train members on vegetative propagation methods, including

lowcost recommendations and techniques that are applicable in the

communities. Additionally. They will give advice on soil management, rescue

of native seeds and farming practices. This project will last from two to three

weeks in country. For more information or to apply for this opportunity,

please visit

https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/NCBACLUSA1/743999692209735-farmer-to-farmer-f2f-plant-propagation-expert

Sheladia Associates, Inc. is currently recruiting a Drip Irrigation

Engineer Consultant for an urban horticulture project in Afghanistan. The

Drip Irrigation Engineer is responsible for leading in the conduct of a

feasibility study for a pressurized drip irrigation supply system to peri-urban

high-value horticulture farmers. The concept is for the untreated water from

Dahla Dam delivered via gravity through a low-pressure pipeline that can be

laid alongside the planned urban water supply line. This would provide a

secure and highly efficient irrigation supply that will reduce disaster risk

exposure and improve food security. The delivery network would reach land

areas with suitable agricultural soils and conditions for high-value intensive

horticulture production, and the institutional arrangements will include

supply charges applied to recipients to ensure sustainable revenue for

operation and maintenance, and equitable valuation of water amongst

competing users. Sheladia Associates, Inc. is a minority-owned and operated

multidisciplinary consulting firm founded in 1974 and headquartered in the

metropolitan Washington DC area, with international offices located in

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Philippines, and

Zambia. For more information about this and other opportunities with this

firm, please visit https://www.sheladia.com/careers/ or alternately, this

opportunity is also listed and applications are possible during Sept. 2019 on

devex.com/ job search keyword horticulture, select this opportunity from the

list provided.

Winrock International is looking for a volunteer Design and Fabrication of

Crop Dryer Expert for a farmer-to-farmer project in Ghana. The

Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Cape Coast requests

the support of a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer for a 21-day volunteer

assignment located in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. The

volunteer will provide technical assistance to support staff of the Department

in the design and fabrication of a crop dryer, including solar dryer,

temperature-controlled dehydrator or biomass/fossil-fueled batch dryer for

drying fruits, vegetables and grains. It is expected that the crop dryer will be

built during the assignment timeframe. The volunteer will also work in

collaboration with the staff to prepare a training manual for the training of

farmers in the design, construction and operation of the crop dryer. As an

academic discipline, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, University

of Cape Coast trains students and farmers in the application of engineering

principles and practices to facilitate agricultural production and alleviate the

related drudgery. The department is currently engaged in research and

outreach activities to promote the postharvest processing of various crops to

reduce the high incidence of losses which lead to food insecurity. Crop drying

remains a problem among farmers in Ghana. Even though the farmers take

advantage of the high average temperatures to dry their crops at a low cost,

uncertainties about the weather, the slow drying rate, contamination of the

produce by extraneous materials and loss of nutrients due to direct exposure

to the sunshine limit the use of open sun drying on the floor. Furthermore,

the commercial drying of large quantities of produce require appropriate

drying infrastructure that are designed to suit the particular crops. Lack of

adequate drying of crops often expose them to weevil infestation and

contamination by mycotoxins during storage. Major crops grown are maize,

cassava, fruit and vegetables. The commercial drying of maize for example,

may require the use of a conventional batch dryer equipped with a heating

unit, a blower unit and a drying bed. Fruits and vegetables may be dried

with customized solar dryers and low temperature dehydrators equipped

with a temperature regulator. Sole or hybrid biomass-solar dryer systems

also offer advantage for the use of agricultural wastes to generate heat for

drying. In this assignment, the volunteer will assist the department to

design and fabricate the dryer for dissemination to the various crop farmers

in the Central Region of Ghana. For additional information or to apply for this

volunteer opportunity, please visit

https://www.winrock.org/join-us/volunteer/volunteer-

opportunities/?oid=c4c4d0f3-735c-4e70-8d11-067cf9991142 or contact

Jennifer Robinson at jennifer.robinson@winrock.org | 501.280.3018.

Winrock International is also seeking a volunteer Trainer of Trainers

(TOT) on Maintenance of Agricultural Equipment for Vegetable

Production for a current opportunity in Senegal. The 18 day volunteer

assignment will be located in Sedhiou, Senegal. The volunteer

will provide Community Agricultural Areas Program PRODACs’[1] ,

DAC[2] of Séfa’s and Keur Momar Sarr’s staff training on maintenance of

agricultural equipment (plows, sprayers, rototillers, and tractors) for

vegetable production. One session will be held in Séfa, Sédhiou for the two

hosts. For more information about this assignment, please visit

https://www.winrock.org/join-us/volunteer/volunteer-

opportunities/?oid=04adb878-fbb0-4ac3-95df-267fa8ffa464 or contact

Selyna Buie at selyna.buie@winrock.org | 501-280-3002.

Also for Senegal, CNFA is currently seeking a Farm and Post-

Harvest Production Consultant to support proposal development on the

upcoming USAID/Senegal Agricultural Value Chain Services for the rice,

maize, millet/sorghum and horticulture value chains. A key objective of the

future project will be to increase the targeted value chains’ productivity and

quality management system, including by reducing production costs and

post-harvest losses and supporting the adoption of higher quality standards.

For much more information about job duties and required qualifications for

this paid consultant position, please visit https://www.cnfa.org/job/farm-

and-post-harvest-production-consultant-senegal/

ACDI/VOCA is currently seeking a Food Drying Specialist for an

upcoming volunteer assignment in the Republic of Georgia (GEO-2014-024).

A small scale farmer is requesting volunteer assistance to learn best

practices in fruit and vegetable drying techniques. They currently grow

berries, plums, apples and vegetables such as carrots and tomatos. They are

also interested in developing a dehydrated soup mix to sell locally. The

assignment will last for approximately 3 weeks in country. For additional

information, please visit https://volunteeropportunities-

acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5494/fruit-and-vegetable-drying-specialist%2c-

georgia/job.

ACDI/VOCA is also currently seeking a Walnut and Almond

Specialist for an upcoming volunteer assignment in the Republic of Georgia

(GEO-2014-025). The local association has requested volunteer assistance

to provide training on walnut and almond processing, including pre-cleaning,

hulling, shelling, kernel grading, blanching and skin separating. The

assignment will last for approximately 3 weeks in country. For more

information or to apply, please visit https://volunteeropportunities-

acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5495/walnut-and-almond-processing-

specialist%2c-georgia/job.

ACDI/VOCA is recruiting a Tree Nut Orchard Specialist for an

upcoming volunteer assignment in Armenia (ARM-2014-005). The Armenia

Nut Orchard Project is requesting volunteer assistance to help them

establish nut orchards including walnut, hazelnut and almond trees. The

main objective of the assignment is to examine, analize and summarize

approaches and methodoligies for current orchard management and provide

recommendations for efficient planting and cultivation of nuts that would be

suitable to local conditions. The assignment will last for approximately 3

weeks in country. Please visit https://volunteeropportunities-

acdivoca.icims.com/jobs/5491/tree-nut-orchard-management%2c-

armenia/job for more information.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is looking for a volunteer Agribusiness

Marketing Specialist to do a market analysis of the Fruit subsector in

Uganda. Horticultural production is one of Uganda’ promising agricultural

sub-sectors with a growth rate of 20% per year (NDP, 2009). Fruits

contribute to a big share of Uganda’s non-traditional agricultural exports and

to the foreign exchange earnings. The major fruits produced include: Passion

fruit, Papaya, Jackfruit, Citrus, Pineapple, Mango, Avocado, Apple banana,

Bogoya, Chili pepper (Cavendish), Watermelon, Guava, Grape, Strawberry,

Melon and Tree tomato. The sub-sector is characterized by smallholder

farmers as producers, and the main markets of Uganda’s fresh fruits and

vegetable including solar dried fruits to a lesser extent are: European Union

(EU), COMESA, EAC and domestic markets. Despite its growth potential and

contribution to the economy, the horticulture subsector is faced with

numerous challenges ranging from low production volumes and poor-quality

produce, high post-harvest losses, food safety issues, failure to meet

mandatory and/or voluntary label market requirements, etc. The level of

agroprocessing is still very low fetching low incomes for the producers due to

selling of fresh produce given their highly perishable nature. The few agro-

processors such as Jakana Foods Limited (JFL) who have invested in the

fruits sector have been disappointed by the low production volumes, poor

quality, seasonality issues specifically for desired fruit varieties to meet final

product requirements as demanded by consumers. Using JFL as a case

study; this assignment will focus on analysis of the production, processing

and marketing of fruits to inform the development of a transformative model

for engaging Ugandan fruit producers for improved productivity, raw

material quality, reliability of supply, and business viability for producers and

American fruit processing companies. For more information on this project or

to apply, please visit http://farmertofarmer.crs.org/wp-

content/uploads/2019/06/UG217-Market-analysis-study-of-Fruits-

subsector.pdf or contact Maria Figueroa at maria.figueroa@crs.org.

CNFA is still looking for volunteers for horticulture-related assignments

taking place in Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique, Zambia, and

Zimbabwe! Please contact f2frecruitment@cnfa.org if you are interested in

possible horticulture assignments in any of these countries.

CGIAR has announced the CLIFF-GRADS 2019 Round 1 Student Call

for Applications – Deadline: 30 September 2019

The CLIFF-GRADS program invites applications for short-term (4-6 month)

scientific training and research on the measurement and management of

greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage in agricultural systems.

Students from developing countries who are currently enrolled in PhD

research related to agricultural greenhouse gas quantification or mitigation

are eligible to apply. Research will be conducted in association

with CCAFS and GRA scientists’ projects. Applications are requested on

either of two themes:

1. Measurement and mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions or

carbon storage in agricultural systems in developing countries, including in

the context of enhancing food security;

2. Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from reduced

food loss in high emission supply chains (e.g. dairy, beef, vegetables, fruits)

in developing countries, including estimation of costs and constraints to

mitigation.

Selected students will be sponsored in the amount of 10,000 -12,000 USD.

For more information and for a list of research opportunities available,

please visit https://storage.googleapis.com/cgiarorg/2019/08/c33b0b2e-

cliff-grads-2019-round-1-student-call-for-applications.pdf Research projects

are hosted by CCAFS and GRA members and partners and must take place

during 2020. Funding for CLIFF-GRADS is provided by the CGIAR Research

Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the

Government of New Zealand and USAID.

International Twitter Feed

WaterLandEcosystems

@WLE_CGIAR

Tweeted - Farmers in Mali predominantly practice rain-fed agriculture and

are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Learn how solar suitability

map can help increase their resilience.

@IWMI_@Petraschje @FeedtheFuture @USAID @Water_4_farming

@BorlaugTAMU https://wle.cgiar.org/solar-irrigation-counter-climate-

vulnerability-and-improve-food-security-mali

Mali is facing a cascade of threats from climate change. Its economy is

driven by agriculture and 72% Mali’s population owes their livelihoods to

agro-pastoralism. Being heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture makes

Mali ever more vulnerable to climate shock. But there is some light at the

end of the tunnel. Mali’s most abundant resource – sunshine – may prove to

be its ultimate savior in accessing the ever-scarce water resource. ‘Solar-

irrigated agriculture’ is attracting much interest from smallholder farmers in

Mali.

Agrilinks

@Agrilinks

Tweeted - Rainfall has dropped 7.5% in South Asia from 1900 - 2005. With a

growing population of 1.6 billion ppl, South Asia hosts 40% of the world’s

poor & malnourished on just 2.4% of its land. A new tool can help assess

droughts & create better policies: https://agrilinks.org/post/new-drought-

monitoring-system-will-reduce-climate-risks-south-asian-farmers…

@CIMMYT

WorldVegetableCenter

@go_vegetables

Tweeted - Meet one of the ingredients in

@BeyondMeat: #Mungbean! WorldVeg Genebank has 6,777 accessions of

this amazing legume & the Intl Mungbean Improvement Network is

developing more. New #markets for farmers ahead! @ACIARAustralia

https://bit.ly/2TSNaFd https://bloom.bg/2L1pGK1

Crop Wild Relatives

@CropWildRelativ

Tweeted - Meet Solanum incanum & Solanum elaeagnifolium, two wild

relatives featured by @edenproject in the Mediterranean Biome in Cornwall,

UK, with a special shout out to our #CropWildRelatives Project partners

@go_vegetables & @SOLbreedCOMAV! https://edenproject.com/visit/whats-

here/mediterranean-biome… #eggplant

WorldVegetableCenter

@go_vegetables

Also tweeted - Just a few seats left! REGISTER NOW to secure your place,

enhance your crop evaluation skills, and improve your career prospects!

METHODS FOR DISEASE AND INSECT RESISTANCE SCREENING FOR

GERMPLASM CHARACTERIZATION AND VEGETABLE BREEDING

https://bit.ly/2WrqMlW

USAID

@USAID Tweeted - It’s their time. This month’s @USAID newsletter celebrates the

potential of the 1.8 billion youth in the world and explains how our work helps them succeed http://ow.ly/gb4z50vK90T #selfreliance #USAIDYouth

Concordia

@ConcordiaSummit

Tweeted - In Myanmar, growing speciality coffee leaves a smaller carbon

footprint and provides jobs to women and people in conflict-areas. It's also a

viable alternative to growing opium and other low-value crops, like tea, that

often rely on child labor. #FinalistFridays #Concordia19

CNFA

@CNFA

Tweeted - The [scientific] mission will serve as an important means of

bringing together all the principals in the fight against #BMSB... to share

critical information & knowledge to advance our mutual objective & control

this destructive #pest. Building on a 2018 CNFA @USAIDGeorgia

REAP scientific mission to prevent the #BMSB, which threatens #hazelnuts &

other crops in #Georgia, leading entomologists from 3 U.S. universities,

@USDA & Trécé Inc. convened again for a 2nd mission. Learn more:

https://cnfa.org/press/top-entomologists-to-conduct-second-scientific-

mission-in-georgia-mission-reinforces-earlier-efforts-to-protect-georgian-

hazelnut-crop/

AVISA Project

@AvisaProject

Tweeted - Do you collect data from the field? @CGIAR_Data would like to

ask you some questions to better understand the challenges experienced

while collecting georeferenced #data & how they might be able to address

them. Give them your feedback via this survey: http://bit.ly/2ySILZn

SCiO

@SCiO_systems

Tweeted - Have you seen the new map that we recently developed for

#GARDIAN, the agricultural data search engine of @CGIAR_Data? If not

have a look at: https://buff.ly/2ZxD8Pb and explore crop production data

stored in genebanks worldwide.

CGIAR Big Data

@CGIAR_Data

Tweeted - We're excited to introduce you to some of our featured speakers

for the 2019 #BigData Convention, 16-18 October, at the

@ICRISAT HQ in Hyderabad, India! Meet more of our distinguished

panelists, get agenda info, and register TODAY: http://bit.ly/2wlRv9d

#BigDataInAg

CGIAR Big Data

@CGIAR_Data

Also tweeted - Using the emerging tools of #bigdata, we're developing

approaches for solving complex problems in ag, especially smallholder

farming in the developing world. Read about how #bigdata is transforming

global food systems, #ByteByByte: http://bit.ly/2VghpJv