Coffee Extension Training Program - Bomet

How to Apply: Submit a detailed CV, copies of academic and professional certificates, a copy of National ID, proof of ward residency, and a brief cover letter indicating the ward you wish to serve. Applications should be submitted in a sealed envelope through the post office, email to recruitment@newkpcuplc.go.ke, or hand delivery, together with contact details of three referees, to reach the company by 1700hrs on Friday, 25th September 2026. Address applications to THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEW KENYA PLANTERS CO-OPERATIVE UNION, PO BOX 59638-04300, WAKULIMA HOUSE, HAILE SELASSIE AVENUE, NAIROBI.

Show You Know Coffee Farming Beyond the Classroom

This extension role is about changing how smallholder farmers grow coffee, so your application must prove you can walk into a ward and earn trust. Hiring managers will look for practical agronomy knowledge, community connection, and the ability to use data tools in the field.

1. Prove your residency and local ties: Since you must be a resident of the ward you serve, make your proof of residency prominent in the application. Attach a clear copy of your ID or any official document showing your ward, and in your cover letter mention your local networks, farmer groups, or cooperative involvement. This signals you already understand the community's challenges.

2. Highlight hands-on coffee experience: If you have worked on coffee farms, with cooperatives, or in extension, detail it with specific examples. Mention the size of farms you've advised, the practices you introduced (e.g., pruning, mulching, pest control), and any measurable improvements in yield or quality. Avoid generic statements like 'passionate about coffee'.

3. Show your agronomy knowledge in your CV: List your education and any short courses in coffee agronomy, post-harvest handling, or soil management. Use keywords like 'coffee berry borer management', 'wet processing', 'shade management', and 'fertilizer regimes' to show you speak the language of the field.

4. Demonstrate digital data collection skills: The posting asks for familiarity with digital tools for data collection. Mention specific tools you've used—like ODK, KoboToolbox, CommCare, or even simple Excel—and describe how you used them to record farmer data, track training attendance, or monitor crop health. If you haven't used them, show you're quick to learn.

5. Prepare for a practical interview: Expect questions that test your problem-solving in real farm scenarios. For example, how would you advise a farmer whose coffee trees show signs of leaf rust? Or how would you convince a skeptical farmer to adopt a new pruning technique? Practice explaining steps clearly and simply, in both English and Kiswahili if possible.

6. Show your training and communication style: As an extension trainer, you'll need to lead group sessions and one-on-one demos. In your CV, mention any teaching, facilitation, or community outreach experience. Be ready to describe how you'd structure a training session for farmers with varying literacy levels.

7. Emphasize teamwork and collaboration: The role involves working with other extension officers, cooperative leaders, and possibly government agencies. Give examples of when you collaborated with others to achieve a goal—like organizing a field day or a cooperative meeting. Show you can listen and adapt.

8. Double-check your application package: The posting lists specific documents: CV, certificates, ID, proof of residency, cover letter, and three referees. Missing any of these could disqualify you. Make sure your referees are reachable and have agreed to speak for you. Send your application well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.