| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Agriculture and Food Processing |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Head of Agronomy |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 4 years in plant protection or agronomy |
Plant Protection Officer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Plant Protection Officer
Department: Agriculture and Food Processing
Reports to: Head of Agronomy
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Plant Protection Officer helps farmers protect crops from pests and diseases through surveillance, advice and integrated pest management. The role reports to the Head of Agronomy or an agronomist. A good plant protection officer scouts fields and spots pest and disease build up early, advises safe and effective control, promotes integrated pest management to cut needless spraying, guides correct and safe pesticide use, contains outbreaks before they spread, keeps surveillance records, and keeps crop losses to pests and disease low so farmers harvest what they grow.
Key responsibilities
- Scout crop fields regularly for pests, diseases and their early build up.
- Advise farmers on safe and effective control at the right stage.
- Promote integrated pest management to cut needless pesticide spraying.
- Guide correct pesticide choice, dosage and safe application to farmers.
- Detect and contain pest and disease outbreaks before they spread.
- Set up pest surveillance, traps and monitoring in the field.
- Support farmers on resistant varieties and cultural control methods.
- Keep records of pest surveillance, advisories and outbreaks in the area.
- Train farmers on safe handling and storage of crop protection inputs.
- Keep crop losses to pests and disease within the agreed limit.
Requirements
- Degree or diploma in agriculture or entomology
- Knowledge of local pests, diseases and control
- Field experience is an advantage
- 1 to 4 years in plant protection or agronomy
KRAs and KPIs for a Plant Protection Officer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Surveillance coverage | Crop scouting and surveillance done against the plan above target |
| Outbreak control | Pest and disease outbreaks contained within the agreed time |
| Crop loss | Crop losses to pests and disease kept below the agreed limit |
| IPM adoption | Farmers adopting integrated pest management above the agreed level |
| Safe use | Farmers advised on safe pesticide use above the agreed level |
| Records | Surveillance and advisory records kept accurate above target |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Pest monitoring traps, Sprayers, Hand lens and field kit, Mobile advisory app, Surveillance records.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Agronomist, Head of Agronomy, Crop Protection Specialist
Interview questions for a Plant Protection Officer
- How do you spot a pest or disease build up before it spreads?
- How do you advise a farmer on integrated pest management?
- How do you guide safe and correct pesticide use?
- How do you contain an outbreak that has started in a field?
- How do you cut needless spraying without risking the crop?
- How do you train farmers on safe handling of crop protection inputs?
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What does a Plant Protection Officer do?
A Plant Protection Officer helps farmers protect crops from pests and diseases through surveillance, advice and integrated pest management. They scout fields, spot problems early, advise safe and effective control, contain outbreaks and guide correct pesticide use, keeping crop losses low so farmers harvest what they grow.
What is integrated pest management?
Integrated pest management, or IPM, controls pests using a mix of methods, including resistant varieties, natural enemies, cultural practices and careful pesticide use only when needed. It cuts needless spraying, protects the crop and the environment, and slows resistance. Plant protection officers promote IPM to farmers over routine chemical spraying.
What qualifications does a Plant Protection Officer need?
Most roles ask for a degree or diploma in agriculture or entomology with knowledge of local pests, diseases and control, and field experience helps. Employers value pest identification, scouting and IPM skills and the ability to advise farmers on safe, effective control in the field.