| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Agriculture and Food Processing |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Head of Agronomy |
| Direct reports | Seed Production Assistant |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in seed production or agronomy |
Seed Production 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: Seed Production Officer
Department: Agriculture and Food Processing
Reports to: Head of Agronomy
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Seed Production Officer manages the production of quality seed, overseeing grower fields, inspections and purity so certified seed meets the standard. The role reports to the Head of Agronomy or a seed production head. A good seed production officer plans and runs seed plots with contract growers, keeps genetic and physical purity high through roguing and isolation, times the crop and inspections right, passes certification, manages growers fairly, and delivers the volume of clean, viable seed the business needs for the next season.
Key responsibilities
- Plan seed production plots and areas with contract growers for each crop.
- Ensure isolation, roguing and field standards that keep genetic purity high.
- Inspect seed fields at the key stages and guide growers on practice.
- Coordinate certification with the seed certification agency at each stage.
- Manage harvesting, drying and handling to protect seed quality.
- Oversee processing, grading and treatment of the harvested seed.
- Test germination and physical purity and keep seed within standard.
- Manage grower agreements, payments and relationships fairly across the season.
- Keep seed lot records, tags and traceability in order.
- Deliver the target volume of certified seed for the next season.
Requirements
- Degree in agriculture or seed technology
- Knowledge of seed certification standards
- Field experience in seed production is an advantage
- 2 to 5 years in seed production or agronomy
KRAs and KPIs for a Seed Production 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 |
|---|---|
| Seed volume | Certified seed produced against the seasonal target |
| Genetic purity | Seed lots meeting genetic purity standards above the agreed level |
| Germination | Seed germination above the certification standard |
| Certification pass | Seed fields and lots passing certification above the agreed level |
| Grower management | Contract growers retained and managed against the plan |
| Traceability | Seed lot records and traceability kept complete above target |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Germination and purity testing kits, Field inspection tools, Seed processing equipment, MS Excel, Seed lot records.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Agronomy, Seed Production Head, Agri Business Manager
Interview questions for a Seed Production Officer
- How do you keep genetic purity high in a seed production field?
- Why does isolation distance matter in seed production?
- How do you carry out roguing in a seed crop?
- How do you coordinate certification through the crop stages?
- How do you protect seed quality during drying and processing?
- How do you manage contract growers fairly and keep them?
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What does a Seed Production Officer do?
A Seed Production Officer manages the production of quality seed, overseeing grower fields, inspections and purity so certified seed meets the standard. They plan plots with growers, keep genetic and physical purity high through roguing and isolation, coordinate certification, and deliver clean, viable seed for the next season.
What is roguing in seed production?
Roguing is removing off type, diseased or unwanted plants from a seed field so they do not contaminate the seed. It is done at key crop stages to keep genetic purity high. A seed production officer guides growers on roguing, since it is central to producing seed that meets certification standards.
What qualifications does a Seed Production Officer need?
Most roles ask for a degree in agriculture or seed technology with knowledge of seed certification standards, and field experience in seed production helps. Employers value field inspection, roguing and purity testing skills and grower management, since seed quality rests on how well the fields are produced and inspected.