Agronomist
Apollo Agriculture
Quick Take
You will advise 5,000+ smallholder farmers on crop management through phone calls and field visits while collecting data to improve Apollo's AI-driven yield models.
A BSc in Agriculture or Horticulture, 2+ years of hands-on field agronomy experience with smallholders, and strong knowledge of Kenyan staple crops like maize and beans.
A competitive above-market salary, meaningful impact at scale through an innovative agri-fintech company blending ML and farming, with real cross-functional exposure to product and tech teams.
Job Description
Apollo Agriculture is a technology-driven company that leverages machine learning and satellite imagery to deliver credit, agricultural inputs, and insurance solutions to smallholder farmers across Kenya. As the company continues to expand its impact, it is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Agronomist to join the team and provide critical on-the-ground and remote support to its growing farmer network.
Based in Nairobi, the successful candidate will play a hands-on role in supporting smallholder farmers located in key maize-growing counties across the country. This is an exciting opportunity for an agronomy professional who is passionate about transforming rural agriculture through practical guidance, data-driven insights, and innovative digital tools.
- Deliver tailored agronomic advice and support to a network of over 5,000 smallholder farmers through both phone consultations and in-person field visits
- Conduct training sessions for farmers covering best agricultural practices, proper use of farm inputs, and effective post-harvest handling techniques
- Gather and record field data that will be used to refine and enhance Apollo Agriculture's crop yield prediction models
- Collaborate with the internal product team to create agronomic content, resources, and digital tools for farmer engagement
- Continuously monitor crop health and field conditions, providing timely early warnings regarding disease outbreaks or weather-related stress affecting crops
- A Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or Horticulture from a recognised institution
- A minimum of two years of practical field agronomy experience, with prior work involving smallholder farming communities being an added advantage
- Strong, demonstrable knowledge of maize, beans, and other staple food crops commonly grown in Kenya
- Proficiency in using smartphones and digital tools for data collection and field reporting
- Fluency in Kiswahili is required; the ability to communicate in relevant local or regional languages is considered a significant added advantage
This role is best suited for a field-oriented agronomist who thrives in dynamic, community-facing environments and has a genuine interest in improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers. The ideal candidate is comfortable working across rural counties, adapting their communication style to suit diverse farming communities, and using technology as part of their daily workflow. If you are self-motivated, data-conscious, and eager to contribute to transforming agricultural access in Kenya through a blend of science and technology, Apollo Agriculture would like to hear from you.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position through Apollo Agriculture's official recruitment process. Ensure your application highlights your relevant field experience, educational background, and any language skills that align with the role's requirements. Applications should be submitted as per the instructions provided on Apollo Agriculture's careers page or the platform through which this listing was found.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- BSc in Agriculture or Horticulture
- 2+ years field agronomy experience, preferably with smallholder farmers
- Deep knowledge of maize, beans and other Kenyan staple crops
- Proficiency in Kiswahili
- Comfort using smartphones and digital data collection tools
Nice to Have
- Fluency in a local/regional language relevant to key maize-growing counties
- Experience working with agri-tech or data-driven agriculture platforms
- Familiarity with crop insurance or agricultural finance products
- Experience designing or delivering farmer training programmes
Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →
Salary Context
Above market rate for an Agronomist role in Kenya
Agronomist salaries in Kenya typically range from KES 40,000–80,000 per month for candidates with 2–5 years of experience; Apollo's KES 80,000–120,000 range sits at the top end or above this bracket, reflecting the tech-enabled nature of the role and the company's venture-backed funding. Pay in this field is influenced by the employer's sector (NGO vs. private vs. agri-tech), county of deployment, and whether the role involves digital tools or data responsibilities.
About Apollo Agriculture
Apollo Agriculture is a Nairobi-based agri-fintech company that uses machine learning, satellite imagery and mobile technology to deliver bundled credit, farm inputs and crop insurance directly to smallholder farmers across Kenya. The company has supported hundreds of thousands of farmers and is widely recognised as one of Africa's most innovative agricultural finance startups, having raised significant venture funding from global investors. Working at Apollo means sitting at the intersection of agriculture, data science and financial inclusion — a rare opportunity to drive real rural impact while building cutting-edge tech solutions.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Can you walk us through how you have managed agronomic support for a large number of smallholder farmers simultaneously — what systems or tools did you use to stay organised?
- 2
Describe a time you identified an early disease outbreak or weather stress in a farmer's crop. How did you respond and what was the outcome?
- 3
How would you explain the benefits of a specific input — such as certified seed or a foliar fertiliser — to a smallholder farmer who is skeptical about cost?
- 4
Apollo combines satellite data with field observations to build yield models. How comfortable are you with digital data collection, and can you give an example of how you have used data to inform agronomic decisions?
- 5
What are the most common maize production challenges facing smallholder farmers in counties like Bungoma, Kakamega or Nakuru, and how would you address them?
Application Tips
Quantify your field experience on your CV — state how many farmers you supported, the acreage covered, or yield improvements achieved, as Apollo's model is built around scale and impact metrics.
Highlight any experience with digital or mobile data collection tools such as KoboToolbox, ODK or even structured WhatsApp-based reporting, since comfort with technology is a core requirement for this role.
If you speak a language spoken in a major maize-growing county — such as Luhya, Kalenjin or Kikuyu — make it prominent in your application, as it is explicitly listed as a strong differentiator.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Transparent and competitive salary range published upfront — KES 80,000–120,000 is above the Kenyan market average for this level of experience.
- Cross-functional collaboration with the product team offers genuine exposure to tech and data roles, creating an unusual career bridge between agronomy and agri-tech product development.
- Apollo Agriculture is a well-funded, mission-driven company with proven scale in Kenya, offering strong employer credibility and potential for international career visibility.
- The role has direct, measurable social impact — supporting 5,000+ smallholder farmers with advice, inputs and insurance aligns professional work with food security outcomes.
Watch Out
- The posting does not mention benefits such as health insurance, pension (NSSF/NHIF top-up), or transport/airtime allowances, which are significant components of total compensation for a field-based role — worth clarifying before accepting an offer.
- Supporting 5,000+ farmers is an ambitious target that may involve substantial travel and phone volume; candidates should probe the field-to-office ratio and whether a vehicle or fuel allowance is provided.
- No mention of team size or direct reporting structure, making it hard to gauge workload distribution and internal support available to the agronomist.
A Day in the Life
Early in the week you might spend two days in the field — visiting maize farms in a county like Bungoma or Uasin Gishu, conducting crop assessments, and logging observations into a mobile data collection app to feed Apollo's yield models. Mid-week could involve back-to-back farmer advisory calls from Nairobi, troubleshooting pest queries or advising on post-harvest handling, while collaborating with the product team on an in-app agronomy tip series. By Friday you are reviewing field data summaries, flagging any disease or drought stress patterns to the wider team, and preparing training materials for an upcoming farmer group session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to apply for the Agronomist role at Apollo Agriculture?
You need a BSc in Agriculture or Horticulture and at least 2 years of field agronomy experience, ideally working directly with smallholder farmers. Strong knowledge of Kenyan staple crops and basic digital literacy are also required.
Is the Agronomist position at Apollo Agriculture office-based or does it involve fieldwork?
The role is a blend of both — you will conduct field visits to key maize-growing counties and also provide remote agronomic advice to farmers via phone, so expect regular travel outside Nairobi.
How much does an Agronomist earn at Apollo Agriculture?
Apollo Agriculture has posted a salary range of KES 80,000–120,000 per month, which is above the typical Kenyan market rate for agronomists at this experience level and reflects the tech-driven nature of the role.
What are the career growth opportunities for an Agronomist at Apollo Agriculture?
The role's close collaboration with the product and data teams creates a strong pathway into senior agronomy leadership or an agri-tech product management track — relatively rare opportunities for agronomists in Kenya's job market.
Free Match Score
See how well you match this job
Upload your CV and get an instant AI score showing exactly how well your experience matches this Agronomist role. Free, takes 30 seconds.
Get My Match Score — FreeNo credit card needed
Boost your chances
AI-tailored for: Agronomist at Apollo Agriculture