Technician, agronomy

Agricultural technicians perform tests and experiments and provide scientific and technical assistance to agronomists, farmers and farm managers.

• preparing materials and equipment for experiments, tests and analyses;
• collecting and preparing specimens and samples such as soils, tissues, organs or parts of plants or animals for experiments, tests and analyses;
• assisting in carrying out experiments, tests and analyses using various methods and techniques such as microscopy, chromatography, electrophoresis and spectroscopy;
• identifying pathogenic micro-organisms, insects, parasites, fungi and weeds harmful to plants and animals and assisting in developing control methods;
• analysing agricultural produce to establish and maintain quality standards;
• conducting or supervising operational agricultural development programmes, such as programmes for establishing fish ponds, greenhouses and livestock farms;
• analysing seed samples to assess their quality, purity and germination;
• collecting data and preparing estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for projects;
• arranging the maintenance and repair of research equipment.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Technician, agriculture
• Technician, crop research
• Technician, soil science