Extension Officer

About Bulimi

Bulimi is a social enterprise focused on empowering smallholder farmers in Uganda by promoting sustainable cocoa farming through regenerative practices. Operating primarily in Western Uganda with a hub in Kyenjojo District, Bulimi offers a holistic soil-to-shade approach covering farmer registration and training, quality seedlings, extension support, organic inputs, agroforestry techniques, cocoa aggregation, and market access.

Role Overview

The Extension Officer serves as the frontline representative linking Bulimi to cocoa farming communities, facilitating farmer engagement, training, and ongoing technical assistance to ensure adoption of best practices that enhance productivity and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage and sensitize farmers, community leaders, and farmer groups about Bulimi's offerings.
• Identify, screen, register, and onboard eligible smallholder cocoa farmers.
• Support formation and strengthening of community and parish-level farmer cooperatives.
• Conduct training sessions and practical farm demonstrations for farmers.
• Advise on land preparation, cocoa planting techniques, shade management, soil fertility, pruning, and overall farm upkeep.
• Regularly visit farms to monitor the use of recommended agricultural methods.
• Detect and report cocoa pests, diseases, or production challenges.
• Maintain accurate farmer records, including profiles, attendance, farm data, and field reports.
• Assist in distributing seedlings, organic fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs, ensuring their correct use.
• Monitor seedling survival and farmer adherence to production standards.
• Advocate for agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and environmentally sustainable farming.
• Collect and relay farmer feedback and escalate issues requiring technical or managerial intervention.
• Support production forecasting, traceability, and aggregation of cocoa products.
• Carry out other tasks that support Bulimi's farmer programs as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Social Work, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Minimum of one year experience in farmer mobilization, agricultural extension, community development, or agribusiness operations.
• Experience working with smallholder farmers and farmer groups is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of cocoa farming is an added advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to rural farming areas.
• Competence with smartphones, Microsoft Office, and digital data collection tools.
• Motorcycle riding skills and valid riding permit will be beneficial.

Competencies

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and mobilization abilities.
• Proficiency in local languages used in targeted communities.
• Strong recordkeeping and report-writing capabilities.
• Integrity, patience, adaptability, and respect for the farming community.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a field team.

Additional Information

This role requires extensive travel within farming communities in Kyenjojo District. Bulimi is an equal-opportunity employer that strongly encourages applications from women, young professionals, persons with disabilities, and individuals from program communities. Bulimi does not charge any fees during recruitment, warning applicants against fraudulent requests for payment.

Application Instructions

Candidates must submit a 2-page updated CV, a one-page cover letter specifying the position, copies of relevant academic and professional certificates, and contact details for at least three referees. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.