Specialist Research / Agronomy / Irrigation Specialist

AQUILES FERNANDO SAZ MADRID

**** ***** ****** ***** ***. #103, Las Cruces, NM 88001

****@****.*** / ****************@*****.*** / 575-***-****

OBJECTIVES

•Work as an engineer to solve problems related to agriculture, water and the environment.

•Gain engineering experience and obtain professional engineering (PE) license.

SUMMARY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

*Research experience in water resource planning and management: crop evapotranspiration (ET) estimation using micrometeorological sensors, GIS mapping, irrigation scheduling, irrigation efficiency estimation, ground water quality analysis, well design and drilling.

*Class work taken in design of evaporation ponds for residual water treatment, design of hydraulic structures, earthen dam design, hydrologic delineation and runoff calculations and ground water modeling.

*Eight years’ experience designing and providing technical assistance and training support programs to rural farmers in Central America.

*Skilled trainer with experience in educating farmers in resources management, production with minimal environmental impact and establishing market-linkages.

Self-motivated professional with strong negotiation and critical thinking skills.

*Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Publisher), irrigation design and evaluation software (CROPWAT, EMESIRE-FOX, CATCH 3D4), hydrologic modeling (Hec-HMS & Hec-RAS), digital mapping and imaging software (GIS).

*Bilingual English and Spanish, strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish.

EDUCATION

•M.S Civil Engineering - Water Resources emphasis Expected completion: 05/2012

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New México

Thesis: “Consumptive Water Use by Alfalfa in the Albuquerque South Valley, New Mexico”

Cumulative GPA: 3.657 / 4.00

•Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Engineering 06/1999

University of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador

Thesis: “Evaluation of Optimal Irrigation Flow Using the EMESIRE.FOX Program in the South Atiocoyo Irrigation District, El Salvador.

Cumulative GPA: 2.75 / 4.00

•Participated in credited English language program 07/2009

San Francisco City College, San Francisco, California GPA: 3.5 /4.00

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

•New Mexico State University, Las Cruces New Mexico USA 08 /2009 – Present

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering

Consumptive Water Use by Alfalfa in the Albuquerque South Valley, New Mexico - USDA funded project

-Determination of consumptive water use of Alfalfa using micrometeorological sensors and determination of irrigation efficiency using the chloride and electrical conductivity methods

-Collection of water and soil samples for water quality, irrigation efficiency and ET calculations

-Collection, processing and analysis of meteorological data f-r the determination of crop water consumption

ET of Treated and non-Treated Riparian Saltcedar Areas at Caballo and Elephant Bute, New Mexico - US BoR funded project

-Installation, maintenance and data collection of weather stations, flux towers and ground water monitoring wells

-Experience installing groundwater piezometers for monitoring depth to groundwater and water quality

•University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California 08/2006 – 07/2009

Office/Facilities Assistant, School of Dentistry

-Communicated with Ph.D. students, faculty, staff, and clients to answer questions, disseminate information, receive special-instrument orders and address complaints

-Tracked inventory, file and delivered sales orders; handled shipping and receiving of dental materials

-Maintained sterilization procedure logs, sterilize dental instruments using ultrasonic sterilizer and steam autoclave machines, and distribute them to student lockers

-Set up student cubicles and laboratories with dental material and equipment

-Prepared instruments, supplies, and dental kit materials for the State and Regional Dental Board final examination

Award: recipient of the Outstanding Student Award for Excellence/February 2009

•TechnoServe Inc. USAID 10/2001 – 03/2006

Coffee Diversification Project, Morazán, El Salvador

Technical Assistance/Agronomist

-Reduced irrigation water use from 24 to 4.5 m /week/(ac) by promoting irrigation system improvements and proper handling of fresh produce and by training farmers in rational use of soil and water resources and soil conservation techniques

-Designed, established and promoted demonstration farms with sprinkler, drip, jet propelled, and mist irrigation systems. This resulted in training 240 farmers

-Increased final sale prices by 30% by organizing and supervising construction of facilities for cleaning, sorting, packing, storing and distributing of fruits and produce

-Developed organic fertilizers with local materials, reduced gross production cost by 25%, increased competitiveness, and minimized environmental impact

Business Advisor

-Coordinated operations in El Salvador’s eastern coffee producing region; assisted 240 coffee farmers through the diversification of farms of project. This effort resulted in a profitable horticulture crops increasing demand in regional markets. Farmer’s profit margins increased from 1:0.75 (not profitable) to 1:2.7 (highly profitable)

-Organized eight client farmer groups; designed technical assistance plan for each client farmer and provided integrated technical assistance via weekly visits, building a strong supply of fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits network

-Piloted and built four low cost greenhouses for seedling and vegetable production (70,000 vegetable seedling production capacity) to avoid white fly contamination and reduce use of pesticide. Production increased by 30%

-Supervised conversion of 45 acres of steep land to productive agricultural land. Installed drip irrigation systems and plastic covered furrows; crops implemented include: cucumber, tomato, green pepper, green bean, squash and watermelon; crop areas increased by 450%

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

-Strengthened farmers’ business skills and linkages to formal and informal markets; trained 20 farmers in basic accounting, record keeping, and tax and rent regulation compliance. Also taught farmers sales and marketing techniques. Results: gross annual sales increased from $29,000 in 2001 to $192,000 in 2003 for the 8 farmer groups

-Investigated new market outlets for produce and monitored price trends in local and national vegetable markets; stretching the farmers’ sales price negotiation abilities

-Identified new potential clients through outreach to community organization. This effort resulted in two additional national supermarket chains to the farmers’ portfolio list

Award: Highlighted in TechnoServe annual report 2004

•Catholic Relief Services-USAID 9/2000 – 10/2001

Insertion of Small Farmers into Potential Markets Project, Morazán, El Salvador

Technical Assistance/Agronomist

-Provided technical assistance in crop production, management, and establishment of hillside micro-irrigation systems

-Carried out planning and implementation of scaled production systems on 25 acres of terraced lands

-Trained farmers in rational management of soil and water resources and promoted the production and use of organic fertilizer while reducing production costs and increasing crop production rates

-Worked on technology generation and transfer for nontraditional irrigate crops. Designed and wrote manuals on operation and maintenance of drip and mist irrigation systems

-Established farms to showcase methodologies for pest control, irrigation, soil treatment and new crop varieties

-Organized tours and exchange programs with farmers from neighboring countries (Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua)

Marketing Consultant

-Worked with USAID project designed to organize producer groups and promote the establishment and formal market entry of Hortalizas de Oriente, a commercial enterprise to process and sell produce in the eastern part of El Salvador

-Established supply networks with producers to guarantee consistent supply throughout the year; established and maintained client portfolio for sale of produce originating from northern Morazán

-Trained five groups of farmers in post-harvest handling and sales techniques; worked with 250 farmers on design of accounting sheets to track production costs and sales, as well as on provide trainings on tax declarations

-Supported several aspects of establishing Hortalizas de Oriente, including: organization of board of directors, design and implementation of accounting systems, technical assistance in legalization of the business, and creation of bar-coding system to track distribution of packed products

-Met with municipal authorities to negotiate granting of fixed market stalls for producers in local municipal markets

•PROCHALATE–ADEL–International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Reconstruction and Rural Modernization Program, Chalatenango, El Salvador 12/1998 – 8/2000

Field Researcher

-Conducted primary research in three regions of Chalatenango to assist in preparation of local development plans

-Carried out data entry and analysis in project matrices

-Liaised between government agencies, local NGO’s and community boards to coordinate inter-institutional cooperation

-Prepared monthly project reports

OTHER COURSES

•“Employee Hazard Communication Training” New Mexico State University 2010

•“Safety Defensive Driving Course” New Mexico State University 2010

•“On Line Receiving Module, PS2 Program” University of California in San Francisco 2008

•“Basic uses of Axium Program,” University of California, San Francisco, CA 2007

•“Good Manufacturing and Agricultural Practices,” EPA training course, San Salvador 2005

•“Communication Techniques for Agricultural Extension Workers,” TechnoServe, Morazán 2002

•“Strengthening Entrepreneurial Capacity and Business Plan Development”, San Salvador 2002

•“Irrigation Water Use” New Mexico State University, International Seminar, San Salvador 1999

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

•Dr. Zohrab A. Samani, Ph.D

(NMSU Master’s Degree Advisor),

Associate Professor

Civil and Geological Engineering Department

New Mexico State University

Ph. 575-***-****

*******@****.***

•Dr. Salim Bawazir, Ph.D

(NMSU Master’s Degree

Co-Advisor and Field Research Supervisor)

Associate Professor

Civil and Geological Engineering Department

New Mexico State University

Ph. 575-***-****

********@****.***

•Dr. J. Phillip King P.E., Ph.D., MBA

(NMSU faculty professor),

Associate Professor/Associate Department Head Civil and Geological Engineering Department New Mexico State University

Ph. 575-***-****

******@****.***

•MSc. Martin Connaughton

(USAID project advisor in El Salvador 2001-2006)

International Agriculture Consultants

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Office : 505-***-****

************@****-****.***

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