Westley Cheruiyot

Brief:

Wesley Cheruiyot is an Experienced Crop Protection and Crop Production professional, an expert in Quality Control of fresh produce with a demonstrated history of working in the import and export industry of fresh produce. Proven Research and Professional Training skills in Agriculture Sector. Passionate, focused, and committed resourceful individual with a B.Sc. Horticulture focused in Plant Science

April 2019 – Present-: Biobest Sustainable Crop Management (Real IPM Company) as Training Manager & Consultant.
Training Department
• Building relationships and partnerships with clients- Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally. • Communicating and negotiating - Acquiring & using a wide range of communication styles & skills. • Demonstrating leadership – Leading by example; initiating and supporting change. • Focusing on clients - Contributing to a client-focused culture. • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenging, innovating & contributing to learning culture. • Managing wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization. • Managing time, resources, and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources • Problem-solving and decision-making - Solving complex problems and making decisions that have wider corporate impact. • Strategic thinking and organizational development
• Coordination of Training activities in the Training department
• Developing Content for Biobest Academy-e-Learning platform • Research on training materials, development of Training materials and updating them regularly. • Designing and developing learning courses, using a Learning Management System (e.g., Moodle) • Conducting Training needs analysis and align them with the training plan. • Use of blended learning solutions and digital tools that create innovative learning programs. • Review training curricula to capture the market dynamics and new courses. • Marketing Technical training products to potential clients.
• Prepare budget for training programs and workshops • Ensure all training activities are evaluated and communicate all the training programs on a timely basis • Prepare and submit post-training reports
• Prepare and deliver training to small- & large-scale farmers, Education Institutions and Fresh produce (Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Cotton, Tea, Macadamia and Coffee) exporting company staff on this Courses.
✓ Crop Nutrition, Crop Protection and Crop Production,
✓ Integrated pest Management (IPM) and Crop Protection,
✓ Organic Agriculture
✓ Pest and Disease Identification
✓ Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides
✓ Fertilizer Application and Crop Nutrition
✓ Market standards; Internal Audit, Global GAP, and HACCP
✓ Food Safety and food hygiene
✓ Traceability.
✓ Training of Trainers (ToT)
✓ Environmental Management.
✓ Compost making
✓ Training on BASIS and FACTS- UK Diploma Courses
Crop scanner Department
• Coordinate and guide on implementation of Crop scanner App Activities
• Mapping of farms and follow up to ensure they are using the app smoothly
• Ensure Fast and direct entry of scouting-data in smartphone or tablet
• Undertake continuous real-time overview of your greenhouse at any time
• Visualizations of pest pressure and population build-up of beneficials
• Extensive data-analysis & direct contact with clients for personalized IPM advice
• Marketing of crop scanner scouting tool to potential clients
• Train on crop scanner use and any other related activities
Consultancy and Agronomy
• Develop proposals for various projects under crop protection and crop production
• Consult on various projects under crop protection and crop production i.e., Composting, Global Gap, Organic farming, Integrated Pest Management and False Codling Moth Management
• Deliver on Funded Projects by COLEACP and other European Union Funded Projects
• Develop contents, articles and Manuals that guide on sustainable crop production
• Ensure accurate knowledge or reliable referrals to make recommendations to growers to achieve efficient crop production
• Scout client’s farms for Weeds, Insects, Diseases and Nutrition issues and advise on the same
• Gather, compile, analyze and interpret test results from growers
• Provide agronomic training for staff responsible under crop protection and crop Production
• Assist with agronomic budgeting and cost monitoring
• Remain up to date on crop nutrition and crop protection technology
➢ April 2018 – April 2019-: Biobest (Real IPM Company) as an IPM Trainer.
• Undertaking training needs analysis and Business development
• Developing training proposals for various projects
• Sourcing for Training Business from potential clients
• Keeping up to date all the training records
• Developing training content and presentations
• Training on various topics i.e.
o Crop Nutrition and Production,
o Integrated pest Management and Crop Protection,
o Pest and Disease Identification
o Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides
o Market standards; Internal Audit, Global GAP, HACCP Principles and Application,
o Food Safety and Traceability.
o Training of Trainers
o Environmental Management
➢ Jan 2015 – April 2018-: Wilmar Flowers Ltd. As a Product and Quality Control Agronomist.
Duties and Responsibilities;
• Training of farmers on various aspects to do with quality control and production.
• Advising farmers on the best Good Agricultural Practices to optimize their production and use of correct farm inputs.
• Ensure effective communication between the out growers and the company
• Quality check of flowers purchased on each station and also in Pack house before packaging for export
• Conducting trials and projects aimed at improving the quality of the flowers.
• Ensure good handling of flowers at all levels of the chain from Farm level to Pack house through to packaging for export.
• Coordinate the team that is involved in purchases of the flowers.
• Reconciliation of flowers purchased and agrochemicals sold before departing each station.
• Sorting out claims and queries of the out growers.
• Ensure proper recording of all documents used by the purchases team.
Key Achievements;
✓ Streamlining the Quality and Purchases team to achieve the 2% minimum discard level permitted by the company.
✓ Through trials conducted, I found out the cause and remedy of the discoloration in flower petals during production and in storage.
✓ Improving the level of Agrochemical sales made at the company’s store.
➢ May 2014 – October 2014-: Koppert Biological Systems (K) Ltd. As a Technical Assistant.
Duties and Responsibilities;
• Conducting Trials in Various Flower farms on the efficacy and sensitivity of the company’s products.
• Training on the basic IPM practices in the flower farms involved in the project.
• Conducting Trials on the Coopernic Project in various Large scale Flower farms across Kenya.
• Advise on proper use of Crop protection products.
• Promotion and Sales of the Company’s Products in the Kenyan Market.
• Compiling and presenting the reports on trials and projects undertaken.
Key Achievements;
✓ Reducing the amounts of active ingredients used in production through use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the project conducted within 6 months

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, (2010-2013) Obtained a 2nd class- upper division.
❖ Certificate of Competence in Crop Protection – Floriculture, BASIS Registration Limited-UK, (2018) Obtained a Pass
❖ Certificate of Competence in FACTS – Horticulture, BASIS Registration Limited-UK, (2019) Obtained a Pass
❖ Expert Trainer/ IPM Expert for COLEACP in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries-From 2018
❖ Certificate in Best crop protection practices (Advanced level) – COLEACP, (2018) Obtained a Pass
❖ Certification as a BASIS Approved Trainer 2020-2022 in Africa
❖ Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, Segero Adventist Secondary School, (2005 – 2008), obtained grade B+.
❖ Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, Kalyet Septonok Academy, (1996 – 2004), obtained 389 marks out of 500