Agronomist for Fruits and Vegetables

Job Title: Field Agronomist

Location: Pan India

Company Overview:

Reliance Retail, India's largest retailer, has grown significantly since its inception in 2006. Its nationwide network of retail outlets provides a world-class shopping experience and exceptional customer service.

Reliance Retail operates a chain of convenience stores, supermarkets, and online stores, offering a wide range of products and services.

Job Description:

As an Agronomist specializing in fruits and vegetables, you will play a crucial role in optimizing crop production and implementing sustainable agricultural practices. You will be responsible for providing expertise and guidance in all aspects of crop management, from cultivation and pest management to soil health and irrigation strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Crop Management:

Develop and implement crop production plans and strategies for fruits and vegetables to optimize yield, quality, and profitability.

Develop a rapport with farmers by visiting their fields daily and providing them with tips for a good harvest.

Monitor and assess crop health, growth stages, and nutrient requirements throughout the growing season.

Implement integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to minimize pest and disease incidence while reducing environmental impact.

Guide farmers with a package of practices and ensure they are followed.

Regularly record and share the difficulties of farmers in the region to help in ideating farm-level interventions.

Check the feasibility of trying out new crops or new varieties in the region.

Help farmers in preparing a crop plan that will fetch them better returns and help Reliance Retail in sourcing a range of fruits and vegetables from the collection center.

Soil Management and Fertility:

Conduct soil tests and analyses to assess soil health and fertility levels.

Recommend and implement soil management practices, including fertilization, soil amendments, and crop rotation, to improve soil structure and fertility.

Irrigation and Water Management:

Design and implement irrigation systems tailored to the specific needs of fruits and vegetables.

Monitor water usage efficiency and recommend irrigation scheduling based on crop water requirements and environmental conditions.

Research and Innovation:

Stay updated on the latest agronomic research, technologies, and trends related to fruits and vegetables.

Conduct trials and experiments to evaluate new varieties, planting techniques, and agronomic practices for improved productivity and sustainability.

Farm Advisory and Training:

Provide technical guidance and training to farmers and farm workers on best agronomic practices for fruits and vegetables.

Establish quality standards for fruits and vegetables in alignment with Reliance Retail's QA Team.

Regularly update the Reliance Retail Sourcing Team about the current level of crop and expected harvest quality in the area.

Maintain minimal deviance between the farm-level suggested crop plan and the actual field data by visiting farmers daily and updating the crop status.

Collaborate with extension services and agricultural institutions to disseminate knowledge and promote adoption of sustainable farming practices.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop Science
• Technical skills to guide farmers for better yields
• Interest in agriculture technologies
• Field experience
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to innovate and adapt agronomic practices to local conditions
• Deep understanding of crop physiology, soil science, pest management, and irrigation principles as they apply to fruits and vegetables
• Experience with agricultural research methodologies, data analysis, and interpretation
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with farmers, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams