The John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to promote sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production, and marketing by leveraging the expertise of U.S. volunteers.

ACDI/VOCA seeks a specialist in Apple Orchard Management for a Volunteer Assignment in Georgia. The selected Volunteer will collaborate with the host to provide technical assistance for the production of apples (Malus Domestica L.). The volunteer will review their current apple production systems and provide theoretical and practical trainings on factors that are currently limiting their yield and profitability. The assignment’s target audience are farmers and extension professionals. The assignment’s target audience is farmers and extension professionals.

***As part of the Farmer-to-Farmer Consortium, this assignment is made possible through USAID funding. In accordance to USAID guidelines, any candidates submitted for consideration under this project must have a valid US passport or Green Card.***

This is a 2-week assignment, scheduled for July 2024. 

Provisions for the Volunteer:

• All international and local travel
• All lodging
• A per diem to cover meals and incidentals
• Travel Visa (if applicable)
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
• In-country support from field office staff
• Local cell phone to use during assignment (if needed)

The Volunteer will visit apple orchards, interview both farmers and extension professionals, and conduct multiple workshops in the field and in the classroom. The workshops should include apple production basics and address local issues and problems that limit the current yields and profitability. 

The training should include the establishment and maintenance of commercial apple orchards; apple variety and rootstock choices, plus trainings on grafting scion to rootstock; soil and water management; the identification and management of pests and diseases; and lastly, harvest and post-harvest apple handling. 

While in-country, the Volunteer will:

• Visit apple orchards and provide specific consultations/recommendations on observed production problems and their solutions
• Provide lectures on apple irrigation, plant nutrition, and disease control
• Demonstrate proper apple pruning techniques
• Provide materials that assist in irrigation scheduling, such as calendars and spreadsheets
• Provide materials that assist in on-farm plant nutrition, such as N, P, and K, and pictures for nutrition deficiency symptoms
• Assess the potential risk of future apple production problems at each site visited, and ways to solve/mitigate these risks
  

• University degree in Horticulture, Fruit Production, or a related field
• At least 5 years relevant work experience
• Practical experience managing apple orchards
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills
• Previous international experience a plus
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel and apps like Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook Etc.