NATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT TRAINING SPECIALIST

The Fall Armyworm (FAW) has been detected for the first time in the Indian subcontinent in mid-May 2018 in maize fields in Karnataka. On July 30, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research issued a warning that the pest, a caterpillar known as FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda, had reached the subcontinent. So far, it has been detected in roughly 70 percent of maize crops in Chikkaballapur in southern Karnataka state, and reports suggest that it has also spread to Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Further expansion of FAW to countries adjacent to India such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and beyond will put the maize production of the whole Asian continent seriously at risk with dire economic consequences. The FAW has the capacity to fly over long distances (100 km per night) and ravage crops all year round given the region's favourable tropical and sub-tropical climate. It could have a devastating impact on Asia's maize producers. It may attack cotton, groundnut, tobacco and cabbage. Globally 80 crops have been listed as the susceptible crops for FAW attack. So far, rice and wheat is not under threat by FAW.

FAW infestation is recently confirmed in Bogura and Chuadanga districts in maize and cabbage. FAW infestation was detected in the maize fields of 36 sub-districts of 19 districts. As per the report by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), severely infested districts are\: Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabgonj, Naogaon, Bogura, Pabna, Sirajgonj, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Jhinaidaha, Chuadanga, Jashsore, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Manikgonj etc. As FAW infestation has short-and long-term impacts on agricultural production, food security and poultry industry; hence it affects the livelihoods of thousands of value chain operators on various commodities in the country. A robust investment in sustainable FAW management is needed to mitigate the situation.

Under such circumstances, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) requested FAO Bangladesh on 27 January 2019 for an emergency technical assistance enabling to identify, report the level of infestation and map the FAW infestation in Bangladesh with management actions.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial, administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Budget Holder, and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and close collaboration with the Government counterpart, the National Specialist will be the part of a multidisciplinary team and support the activities of the project and be responsible for, but not limited to the following\:

Technical Focus

The Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project of FAO, “Emergency response to enhance technical capacity for monitoring and management of Fall Armyworm in Bangladesh (TCP/BGD/3705)” will contribute to the protection of livelihoods and food security of the agricultural farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and contract growers, who are living in FAW affected areas and developing capacities of main stakeholders in awareness, surveillance, monitoring and integrated management of the FAW. As a result infestation and spread of FAW will be reduced through developing sustainable management strategies, and strengthening FAW monitoring and integrated management capacities at all levels and reporting.

Tasks and responsibilities

- In coordination with the Pest Management Expert prepare and produce communication materials (posters, leaflets, videos, etc.) in local language and disseminate followed by initiating awareness raising campaigns through local media coverage on the danger/damage posed by FAW infestation;
- In coordination with the Pest Management Expert develop and print in local language and disseminate FAO-FAW FFS guide and communication materials on options of sustainable management of FAW and the danger of using hazardous and costly pesticides in management of FAW and effective alternatives;
- Plan, organize and facilitate stakeholders training and ToT trainings and other IPM techniques, monitoring tools and FAW sustainable management options.
- Support and assist in meeting for the officials of all concerned government organizations to aware the danger created by FAW, importance and effectiveness of FAMEWS, and to obtain commitment in the use of FAMEWs;
- Plan, organize and facilitate ToT for national focal extension officers on FAW trapping/ field scouting/ how to use FAMEWS application for collecting data from field/ data validation and review and analysis of data generated and presented in the FAMEWS Global Platform
- Plan, organize and facilitate training workshops for all stake-holders at different districts on FAW trapping/field scouting/how to use FAMEWS application for collecting data from the field;
- Plan, organize and facilitate ToT for FFS facilitators on how to implement and run FFSs in relation to sustainable FAW management and development of bio-pesticides;
- Plan, organize and facilitate training of farmers on the production of biopesticides and/or natural enemies;
- Plan, organize and facilitate training of farmers on the production of potential control of FAW using physical and mechanical tools and PPE at farm or community level;
- Plan, organize and facilitate training of FFS facilitator/block supervisor/field monitors on how to implement and run in relation to FAW and production of bio-pesticides at farm level.
- Preparation, submission of training modules, reports, training evaluation reports and terminal project reports;
- Document best practices of FAW and related issues undertaken by the Moa and communities and prepare related reports;
- Prepare end of assignment technical report based on FAO standards and editorial guidelines.
- Any other task assigned by the FAO Representative / Assistant FAO Representative (programme).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- Advance degree, preferably PhD. in one of the following\: Plant Entomology/ Plant Pathology/ Plant Disease Epidemiology/ or related field and knowledge in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be an added advantage.
- National of Bangladesh or resident in the country.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in plant entomology and IPM

FAO Core Competencies

- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

- Relevant working experience monitoring and management of FAW
- Relevant working experience on IPM on different insect pests.
- Working knowledge of English is desirable
- Good organizational capability and teamwork skills are required.