Agency:PeaceCorps

JobTitle:AgricultureExtension:PeaceCorpsVolunteer

Description:
ThegoaloftheagricultureextensionprojectistomotivateParaguayansmallscalefarmersandtheir
familiestooptimizetheiruseofavailablehuman,material,andnaturalresourcesinordertoraisetheir
standardoflivingandtoimprovefoodsecurity.Tasks:TheworkofagricultureextensionVolunteersis
basedonaprojectplandesignedtotrainfarmfamiliesinthespecificareasofsoilmanagement,crop
diversification,improvednutritionandholisticsustainablefarmingpermaculture.Volunteersmustassist
ruralcommunitiestoaddresslocallyidentifiedneedsandinterestsbyservingasalinkbetweenthe
communityandthehumanandmaterialresourcesavailabletothemonanationallevel.Also,Volunteers
useparticipatoryanalysistoolstohelpfarmersandcommunitymembersidentifyandprioritizeandsolve
theirproblems.Yourprincipleobjectiveswillbetoassistfarmfamiliesandindividualsinunderstanding
andimplementingcomprehensivesustainablefoodproductionsystemswhichcanbeusedbothfor
increasedconsumptionaswellasincomegeneration.Eachofthesetasksaddressescriticalproblemsin
ruralParaguay.Establishinglinksbetweenacommunityandavailableresourcesisthetruebasisof
communitybaseddevelopment,wherebycommunitymemberslearntoidentifyandaddresstheirown
needsastheyperceivethem.Theprimarytechnicalfocusoftheworkperformedbyagricultureextension
VolunteersisrelatedtothepriorityneedsandinterestsofParaguayanfarmfamilies:soilmanagement,
incomegeneration,andtheassuranceoffoodavailability.Soilmanagementpracticesincludeuseofgreen
manure,croprotation,notillfarming,andcontourplowing.Atalltimes,youwillhelpfarmfamilies
identifyalternativesourcesoffoodproductionandotherincomegeneratingactivitiesfortheirfarms.One
importantchange,therewillnolongerbeaspecificBeekeepingcomponentoftheproject,rather
beekeepingwillbeanactivitymergedwiththeentireproject

JobLocation:Paraguay

Requirements:
Eligible
U.S.Citizenship
DegreeorWorkExperience
BA/BSAgricultureEconomics,Agronomy,Horticultureorotheragriculturediscipline
BA/BSdegreecombingagricultureandmanagement,includingagribusiness,agriculturalmanagement,
farmmanagement
BA/BSanybusinessoreconomicsdisciplinewith1yearexperienceinfarmingoragribusiness
Language
Completed4yearsofhighschoolSpanishwithinpast8years
PreferablycompletedcollegelevelElementarySpanishIandIIorIntermediate

ContactPerson
KendrallMasten
312.353.7747
kmasten@peacecorps.gov

ApplicationDeadline
February1,2014

TentativeDepartureDate
September2014

12/31/13