MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
CIRCULAR NO. 3 OF 2025.
AG/CIR/3
Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following vacant positions tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition.
Position Title: Agricultural Assistant
Ministry: Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition
Department: Field Services
Grade: D
Number of Positions: Eight (8)
Responsible To: Area Extension Officer
Duty Stations: Quthing (1), Mokhotlong (3), Berea (2), Mafeteng (1), Leribe (1)
Job Summary
Under the general supervision of the Area Extension Officer, the Agricultural Assistant will be responsible for community capacity development and empowerment, training of farmers, coordination of sub-resource center activities, and preparation of sub-resource center budgets.
Main Duties
1. Community Capacity Development and Empowerment
- Create awareness of the UES concept to promote community development initiatives
- Conduct community meetings (Pitso) to explain the Action Learning Cycle (ALC) process
- Facilitate implementation of ALC to help communities identify and solve problems
- Support development of community action plans for resource utilization
- Strengthen local institutions, groups, and cooperatives with technical support
- Build individual farmer capacity to achieve development goals
- Support agricultural development schemes for income generation and poverty alleviation
- Guide communities in monitoring and evaluating their progress
2. Training of Farmers
- Train farmers on technical issues from community action plans
- Promote farmer learning through trials and demonstrations
- Provide agricultural advice and general information
- Arrange study tours and farmer-to-farmer visits
- Train farmer extension facilitators
3. Coordination of Sub-Sectional Activities
- Liaise with sub-sectional heads to support crop activities
- Convene monthly planning and reporting meetings
- Engage stakeholders to ensure consistent and integrated implementation
4. Preparation of Sectional Budget
- Prepare annual sub-sectional budgets
- Negotiate and justify budgets during divisional discussions
- Recommend budget reviews to align with changing plans
Job Specification
Education and Training:
- Certificate in General Agriculture, Nutrition & Home Economics, or Agricultural Mechanization
Experience:
- Not required
Other Necessary Knowledge and Skills:
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Conflict management skills
- Interpretation and analysis skills
- Training skills
Responsibility
For Work of Others:
Responsible for supervising Livestock Attendants, Field Attendants, Wool Classers, Field Recorders, Grazing Control Supervisors, Forest Rangers, Stud Grooms, Pack Grooms, Farriers, Gabion Builders, and Stockmen
For Property:
Responsible for proper utilization and safekeeping of office furniture and equipment
Contacts
| Contact | Reason | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Local Authorities | Agricultural discussions | Monthly |
| Supervisees | Reporting and planning | Monthly |
| Supervisees | Progress review | Quarterly |
| Supervisees | Performance appraisal | Annually |
| Supervisor | Reporting and planning | Monthly |
| Supervisor | Progress review | Quarterly |
| Supervisor | Performance appraisal | Annually |
| District Field Staff | Training and guidance | As required |
| Other Sectional Heads | Integrated implementation | As required |
| Farmers and Communities | Facilitation and training | As required |
Effort and Working Conditions
Mental Effort:
- Conflict resolution
- Interpretation and analysis
Physical Effort:
- High physical effort during demonstrations (e.g., castrating, de-horning)
Unfavourable Working Conditions:
- May work beyond normal hours, weekends, and public holidays
- Exposure to extreme weather conditions
- Long-distance walking during campaigns
Application Instructions
Applications must be submitted on relevant forms:
- GP 104 for serving officers
- GP 103 for job seekers
Each application must be accompanied by:
- Certified copies of educational certificates
- Transcripts
- National Identity Document
- Up-to-date Performance Appraisal Reports (for serving officers)
All applications must be hand-delivered or addressed to:
The Director Human Resources
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
P.O. Box 24
Maseru – 100
Deadline for Applications: Not later than 27th October 2025