Closing date: 01 Apr 2015
Terms
of Reference for Technical support towards development Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers in
Tanzania
of Reference for Technical support towards development Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers in
Tanzania
1.0Introduction
The
African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) web www.act-africa.org
is a Pan-African not for profit organization built on and driven by the values
and principles required to harness indigenous African energies, inspiration and
commitment to lead and contribute to Africa’s own development. The thrust of
ACT is to add value through strategic partnership in the identification,
adaptation and scaling up of conservation agriculture principles and practices.
ACT has received funding from FAO to implement a CA project in Tanzania. Part
of this fund will be used to develop a CA investment Plan (Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers
Program).
African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) web www.act-africa.org
is a Pan-African not for profit organization built on and driven by the values
and principles required to harness indigenous African energies, inspiration and
commitment to lead and contribute to Africa’s own development. The thrust of
ACT is to add value through strategic partnership in the identification,
adaptation and scaling up of conservation agriculture principles and practices.
ACT has received funding from FAO to implement a CA project in Tanzania. Part
of this fund will be used to develop a CA investment Plan (Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers
Program).
A
number of problems are affecting smallholder and medium farmers in Africa,
including Tanzania. They include:
number of problems are affecting smallholder and medium farmers in Africa,
including Tanzania. They include:
Declining
food production per capita:Achieving food security and reducing
poverty in the Africa has been a major challenge for both Governments and
development agencies. Smallholder agriculture, mainly dominated by manual
labour force provided by women, is the predominant form of farm organization in
Africa. According to the Africa Human Development Report (2012), cereal production
in sub- Saharan Africa has tripled since the early 1960s, rising from 38
million tonnes in 1961–1963 to 116 million tonnes in 2008–2010. The food
production per capita is nevertheless declining in the region. When compared
with other regions cereal output per capita fell 13% in sub- Saharan Africa
while increasing 44% in Asia and 48% in South America. A similar picture
emerges for other food groups. The main staples of SSA are unirrigated maize,
cassava, millets, sorghum, yams, sweet potatoes, plantains and rice. There are
many challenges that need to be overcome in order to improve food production
per capita. Several factors have contributed to this unfortunate situation,
including the vulnerability of countries of the region to climate change; the poor
nature of soils in a number of zones; rapid population growth; low utilization
of modern technologies to improve crop varieties, and poor implementation of
policies.
food production per capita:Achieving food security and reducing
poverty in the Africa has been a major challenge for both Governments and
development agencies. Smallholder agriculture, mainly dominated by manual
labour force provided by women, is the predominant form of farm organization in
Africa. According to the Africa Human Development Report (2012), cereal production
in sub- Saharan Africa has tripled since the early 1960s, rising from 38
million tonnes in 1961–1963 to 116 million tonnes in 2008–2010. The food
production per capita is nevertheless declining in the region. When compared
with other regions cereal output per capita fell 13% in sub- Saharan Africa
while increasing 44% in Asia and 48% in South America. A similar picture
emerges for other food groups. The main staples of SSA are unirrigated maize,
cassava, millets, sorghum, yams, sweet potatoes, plantains and rice. There are
many challenges that need to be overcome in order to improve food production
per capita. Several factors have contributed to this unfortunate situation,
including the vulnerability of countries of the region to climate change; the poor
nature of soils in a number of zones; rapid population growth; low utilization
of modern technologies to improve crop varieties, and poor implementation of
policies.
Declining
or low soil fertility:Large
areas of sub-Saharan African soils are affected by various types of
degradation, including fertility decline. Land degradation is an important
global concern because of its adverse impacts on agricultural production, food
security and the environment. Inappropriate land management further increases
loss of productivity of resource poor farmers. This in turn affects their food
security and livelihood. Persistent use of conventional farming practices based
on extensive tillage, especially when combined with removal or in situ burning
of crop residues, have magnified soil erosion losses and the soil resource base
has been steadily degraded. Consequently, yields are relatively low despite the
high potential for improvement. As the main source of economic activity in SSA
is the agricultural production, declining soil productivity means not only less
food is grown but also that production of cash crops and income are endangered.
Thus, rectifying land degradation and enhancing productivity through
appropriate soil management and conservation can play a major role in achieving
farm household food security and agricultural development.
or low soil fertility:Large
areas of sub-Saharan African soils are affected by various types of
degradation, including fertility decline. Land degradation is an important
global concern because of its adverse impacts on agricultural production, food
security and the environment. Inappropriate land management further increases
loss of productivity of resource poor farmers. This in turn affects their food
security and livelihood. Persistent use of conventional farming practices based
on extensive tillage, especially when combined with removal or in situ burning
of crop residues, have magnified soil erosion losses and the soil resource base
has been steadily degraded. Consequently, yields are relatively low despite the
high potential for improvement. As the main source of economic activity in SSA
is the agricultural production, declining soil productivity means not only less
food is grown but also that production of cash crops and income are endangered.
Thus, rectifying land degradation and enhancing productivity through
appropriate soil management and conservation can play a major role in achieving
farm household food security and agricultural development.
Poor
access to value chain CA inputs and services by producers:One of the major
constraints to scaling out of CA is lack of availability and access to CA
inputs and services including the ones for land preparation, planting,
spraying, threshing, shelling and transportation by smallholder farmers hence
leading to a decline in production and consequently farm output. (FAO, 2011).
Smallholder farmers will be propelled faster towards mainstreaming CA practice
if they have access to such implements and services as the jab-planters,
herbicide sprayers, animal and tractor drawn direct–seeders, cover crop seed
and other inputs. Incentives systems are required to support initial
investments in equipment and inputs particularly for small-scale/ poor farmers.
Despite several decades of significant investments in the sector, access to or
usage of formal financial services remains low, particularly in Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA). According to the Microfinance Handbook of 2013, Tanzania still
have low access to financial services (for example credit, deposit avenues,
insurance, money transfers, and pension) within the sub-Saharan region. More
than half of the population (56%) is excluded from the financial system ‒ from formal,
semi-formal and informal financial institutions. Only 12% of population in
Tanzania have access to financial services from commercial banks. Access to
financial services including credit by smallholders can promote the uptake of
CA and also lead to thriving local economies. Agricultural production is
typically a risky business. Farmers face a variety of price, yield, and
resource risks, which make their incomes unstable from year to year. In many
cases farmers are also confronted by the risk of catastrophe. Crop and
livestock may be destroyed by natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, fire,
and drought. The farmer or his family can also be disabled by accidents,
sickness, or death. Crop insurance can lessen the risk of farmers’ exposure to
external shocks (Meinzen-Dick et al., 2004). A system approach in crop
insurance is needed incorporating a public-private partnership between the
government, the farmers and the insurance industry.
access to value chain CA inputs and services by producers:One of the major
constraints to scaling out of CA is lack of availability and access to CA
inputs and services including the ones for land preparation, planting,
spraying, threshing, shelling and transportation by smallholder farmers hence
leading to a decline in production and consequently farm output. (FAO, 2011).
Smallholder farmers will be propelled faster towards mainstreaming CA practice
if they have access to such implements and services as the jab-planters,
herbicide sprayers, animal and tractor drawn direct–seeders, cover crop seed
and other inputs. Incentives systems are required to support initial
investments in equipment and inputs particularly for small-scale/ poor farmers.
Despite several decades of significant investments in the sector, access to or
usage of formal financial services remains low, particularly in Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA). According to the Microfinance Handbook of 2013, Tanzania still
have low access to financial services (for example credit, deposit avenues,
insurance, money transfers, and pension) within the sub-Saharan region. More
than half of the population (56%) is excluded from the financial system ‒ from formal,
semi-formal and informal financial institutions. Only 12% of population in
Tanzania have access to financial services from commercial banks. Access to
financial services including credit by smallholders can promote the uptake of
CA and also lead to thriving local economies. Agricultural production is
typically a risky business. Farmers face a variety of price, yield, and
resource risks, which make their incomes unstable from year to year. In many
cases farmers are also confronted by the risk of catastrophe. Crop and
livestock may be destroyed by natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, fire,
and drought. The farmer or his family can also be disabled by accidents,
sickness, or death. Crop insurance can lessen the risk of farmers’ exposure to
external shocks (Meinzen-Dick et al., 2004). A system approach in crop
insurance is needed incorporating a public-private partnership between the
government, the farmers and the insurance industry.
What
business models to kick-start and sustain adoption of mechanised CA?Government supported
schemes for provision of mechanisation services to smallholder farmers in the
form of mechanisation farm centres, rural development centres, or subsidised
tractors for villages have failed. Yet, we have privately financed, owned and
operated grain milling machines in almost every village in Tanzania. Given the
small farm sizes (typically 2 ha) of smallholder farmers and high acquisition
costs of farm machinery, the farmer-ownership model, whereby individual farmers
are targeted and supported to own and use farm machinery can be declared
obsolete. Entrepreneurial CA service provision by traders and farmers for
farmers holds promise for smallholder farmers to access a range of small-scale
farm machinery services. Beside the CA services (direct seeding, herbicide
application, combine harvesting and straw/stover spreading) other services
include irrigation water pumping, threshing, shelling and farm transportation
have the ability to diversify incomes and create profitability. But where do we
start and which are the proven or best-bet business models that can light the
spark to create the massive CA adoption desired?
business models to kick-start and sustain adoption of mechanised CA?Government supported
schemes for provision of mechanisation services to smallholder farmers in the
form of mechanisation farm centres, rural development centres, or subsidised
tractors for villages have failed. Yet, we have privately financed, owned and
operated grain milling machines in almost every village in Tanzania. Given the
small farm sizes (typically 2 ha) of smallholder farmers and high acquisition
costs of farm machinery, the farmer-ownership model, whereby individual farmers
are targeted and supported to own and use farm machinery can be declared
obsolete. Entrepreneurial CA service provision by traders and farmers for
farmers holds promise for smallholder farmers to access a range of small-scale
farm machinery services. Beside the CA services (direct seeding, herbicide
application, combine harvesting and straw/stover spreading) other services
include irrigation water pumping, threshing, shelling and farm transportation
have the ability to diversify incomes and create profitability. But where do we
start and which are the proven or best-bet business models that can light the
spark to create the massive CA adoption desired?
Poor
market led capacity of producers and farmer organisations:Farmer organisations
are important communities of practice (FOCoP) in addressing the market
constraints. The market constraints faced by producers (farmers) include lack
of information on market requirements, limited skills and knowledge of improved
agricultural technologies, limited reliable and knowledgeable rural input
suppliers for genuine inputs, lack of organised and strong farmer groups,
financial constraints, limited participation of farmers in the marketing chain
and inefficient and costly transport systems. Farmer organizations play an important
role in tackling the systemic causes of poverty, because they give farmers—men
and women—a legitimate voice in shaping pro-poor rural policies. By
articulating farmers’ interests to public and private institutions, farmer
organizations encourage those institutions to tailor their strategies,
products, and services to farmers’ needs. Agricultural producers who are
organized into farmer’s organizations (cooperatives or producers’ associations)
have greater access to resources and inputs needed in producing and marketing
their produce. This allows them to buy their agricultural inputs and sell their
produce collectively, transport it in bulk, etc. for more efficient operations
and larger returns to scale. Being organized into farmer groups will also give
them stronger bargaining power to command better prices for their produce. The
project will use innovative ways of using farmer organizations community of
practice (FOCoP) at different levels and related trade associations as entry
points towards expanding the supply base and developing farmer-friendly crop
value chains. A critical intervention will therefore involve investing in
strengthening these organizations and associations and their affiliates to be
able to provide technical and commercial services to their members and serve as
credible partners to banks, traders, processors, input dealers, and other
actors along the value chain
market led capacity of producers and farmer organisations:Farmer organisations
are important communities of practice (FOCoP) in addressing the market
constraints. The market constraints faced by producers (farmers) include lack
of information on market requirements, limited skills and knowledge of improved
agricultural technologies, limited reliable and knowledgeable rural input
suppliers for genuine inputs, lack of organised and strong farmer groups,
financial constraints, limited participation of farmers in the marketing chain
and inefficient and costly transport systems. Farmer organizations play an important
role in tackling the systemic causes of poverty, because they give farmers—men
and women—a legitimate voice in shaping pro-poor rural policies. By
articulating farmers’ interests to public and private institutions, farmer
organizations encourage those institutions to tailor their strategies,
products, and services to farmers’ needs. Agricultural producers who are
organized into farmer’s organizations (cooperatives or producers’ associations)
have greater access to resources and inputs needed in producing and marketing
their produce. This allows them to buy their agricultural inputs and sell their
produce collectively, transport it in bulk, etc. for more efficient operations
and larger returns to scale. Being organized into farmer groups will also give
them stronger bargaining power to command better prices for their produce. The
project will use innovative ways of using farmer organizations community of
practice (FOCoP) at different levels and related trade associations as entry
points towards expanding the supply base and developing farmer-friendly crop
value chains. A critical intervention will therefore involve investing in
strengthening these organizations and associations and their affiliates to be
able to provide technical and commercial services to their members and serve as
credible partners to banks, traders, processors, input dealers, and other
actors along the value chain
Limited
awareness and sensitization among producers (farmers), private sector and
policy makers on CA and its potential:Limited awareness of CA and its
potential benefits is cited as one of the causes of producers or farmers poor
uptake and scaling up of CA in SSA. CA is not fully mainstreamed into
respective rural development policies, programmes and strategies or implemented
due to the lack of awareness among policy makers and stakeholders about the
technology benefits. It is evident from a number of studies that climate
information and forecasts are important in ensuring farmers appropriate
engagement in agricultural production. The mechanisms to produce and
disseminate information on the weather are however weak. The data and
information produced and disseminated by meteorological institutions are highly
aggregated and global in outlook, and do not address the specific needs of
localized agro-ecological zones. Both proven traditional and ICT based methods
will be employed to raise awareness and sensitise farmers, the public and
private sector to scale out the famer valued CA technologies in the project
countries. The methods used by farmers, policy makers, private sector and other
stakeholders to access and sensitise on CA, climate forecasts, market
information and agricultural technologies in a realistic time are such as
village meetings, extension services, and ICT methods including internet,
mobile phones, emails, community radio and TV.
awareness and sensitization among producers (farmers), private sector and
policy makers on CA and its potential:Limited awareness of CA and its
potential benefits is cited as one of the causes of producers or farmers poor
uptake and scaling up of CA in SSA. CA is not fully mainstreamed into
respective rural development policies, programmes and strategies or implemented
due to the lack of awareness among policy makers and stakeholders about the
technology benefits. It is evident from a number of studies that climate
information and forecasts are important in ensuring farmers appropriate
engagement in agricultural production. The mechanisms to produce and
disseminate information on the weather are however weak. The data and
information produced and disseminated by meteorological institutions are highly
aggregated and global in outlook, and do not address the specific needs of
localized agro-ecological zones. Both proven traditional and ICT based methods
will be employed to raise awareness and sensitise farmers, the public and
private sector to scale out the famer valued CA technologies in the project
countries. The methods used by farmers, policy makers, private sector and other
stakeholders to access and sensitise on CA, climate forecasts, market
information and agricultural technologies in a realistic time are such as
village meetings, extension services, and ICT methods including internet,
mobile phones, emails, community radio and TV.
2.0The purpose
The
main purpose of the contract is to develop a project proposal that will
operationalise the First Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture delegates’
declaration to have 25 million farmers in Africa practice and benefit from
Conservation Agriculture by 2025 from the Tanzanian perspective. The products
will be developed in the backdrop of the ACT strategic plan at http://bit.ly/1GKOMTQ
and particularly the six interlinked thematic areas of focus.
main purpose of the contract is to develop a project proposal that will
operationalise the First Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture delegates’
declaration to have 25 million farmers in Africa practice and benefit from
Conservation Agriculture by 2025 from the Tanzanian perspective. The products
will be developed in the backdrop of the ACT strategic plan at http://bit.ly/1GKOMTQ
and particularly the six interlinked thematic areas of focus.
ACT
is seeking the services of an agribusiness consultant with expertise in
conservation agriculture and mechanisation to study the status of
entrepreneurship, conservation agriculture and mechanization in the hot-spot
adoption areas of CA in Tanzania. The study will be guided by the following
objectives:
is seeking the services of an agribusiness consultant with expertise in
conservation agriculture and mechanisation to study the status of
entrepreneurship, conservation agriculture and mechanization in the hot-spot
adoption areas of CA in Tanzania. The study will be guided by the following
objectives:
Objectives:
- Define
the extent to which CA has been adopted in Tanzania, status and challenges
towards wide-scope and massive adoption by millions of farmers in the next
few years. - Expound
the market pull (as opposed to technology push) opportunities and
innovations that could be engaged to benefit entrepreneurs and investors
(including farmers) as a vehicle to scale out adoption of conservation
agriculture for sustainable production intensification - Create
a detailed understanding of status of mechanization for enhanced CA
adoption in terms of technological, industrial and institutional support
to access and adoption of appropriate mechanization services by
smallholder farmers. - Make
recommendations regarding best-bet and farmer-typology sensitive business
models to use in scaling-up CA among medium and smallholder farmers in
Tanzania. - Define
the strategic and validated public-private partnerships and how they could
be coordinated to deliver services to smallholder and medium scale farmers
as per the proposed models (in 4 above).
Specifically,
the consultant, under supervision of the ACT East and Horn of Africa
Coordinator in close consultation with the ACT Executive Secretary, will
undertake the following:
the consultant, under supervision of the ACT East and Horn of Africa
Coordinator in close consultation with the ACT Executive Secretary, will
undertake the following:
- Acknowledge
receipt of the call for consultancy services and express interest to
tender by due date - Develop
and present to ACT the consultancy implementation methodology, work plan
and budget - Conduct
literature review and field surveys geared to substantiating key
hypothesis as to how smallholder conservation agriculture should be
mechanized and up scaled - Develop
a full project proposal for Tanzania, with the buy-in of key public and
private sector stakeholders titled: Entrepreneurial Conservation
Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers in
Tanzania - Present
and defend the proposed interventions to a multi-discipline CA
stakeholders’ forum – supported by visual/audio aids including a Brochure
“Investors Forum: Entrepreneurial Conservation Agriculture Services
Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers Program” - Produce
and submit a brief consultancy report
3.0Deliverables and
Outputs
Outputs
Deliverables
should reflect the objectives above. Specifically
should reflect the objectives above. Specifically
I.
Develop and present to ACT the consultancy implementation methodology, work
plan and budget – by 10th April 2015
Develop and present to ACT the consultancy implementation methodology, work
plan and budget – by 10th April 2015
II.
Develop a full project proposal for Tanzania, titled: Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers
in Tanzania– By 30th July 2015 (Annex 1)
Develop a full project proposal for Tanzania, titled: Entrepreneurial
Conservation Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers
in Tanzania– By 30th July 2015 (Annex 1)
III.
Develop a Brochure “Investors Forum: Entrepreneurial Conservation
Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers Program” –By
30th July 2015(Annex 2)
Develop a Brochure “Investors Forum: Entrepreneurial Conservation
Agriculture Services Provision to Medium and Smallholder Farmers Program” –By
30th July 2015(Annex 2)
IV.
Produce and submit a brief consultancy report – By 30th July 2015
Produce and submit a brief consultancy report – By 30th July 2015
V.
Participate in Investors forum – First or second week of August 2015
Participate in Investors forum – First or second week of August 2015
4.0Nature of Consultancy
This
will be a short term consultancy to be undertaken in and outside the ACT Dar Es
Salaam office. ACT will provide the consultant with access to required ACT
information, literature, contacts of host persons/institutions to work with for
undertaking the work. The Consultant will also be required to share and agree
with ACT any additional people or organisations to be met. The consultant will
be expected to work within the stipulated duration and submit the desired
products of the documentary and final report to the organization.
will be a short term consultancy to be undertaken in and outside the ACT Dar Es
Salaam office. ACT will provide the consultant with access to required ACT
information, literature, contacts of host persons/institutions to work with for
undertaking the work. The Consultant will also be required to share and agree
with ACT any additional people or organisations to be met. The consultant will
be expected to work within the stipulated duration and submit the desired
products of the documentary and final report to the organization.
5.0Period of assignment
The
contract period is from 1st April 2015 – 15th August
2015. The Consultant is expected to complete this assignment by 15th
August 2015. The following milestones are anticipated:
contract period is from 1st April 2015 – 15th August
2015. The Consultant is expected to complete this assignment by 15th
August 2015. The following milestones are anticipated:
SNo.Activity
Description Due Date 1 Expression of Interest to tender to ACT 1st April 2015 2
Presentation of consultancy proposal – for shortlisted consultants 10th
April 2015 3 Signing of consultancy contract 15th April 2015 4
Literature review, field work 15 April – 15 May 5 Develop the full project
proposal 18th May – 18 June Presentation of finding and proposed
interventions to ACT 19th June 2015 6 Presentation of full project
proposal to investors forum 6th August 2015 7 Incorporation of
feedback and submission of final report 15th August 2015
Description Due Date 1 Expression of Interest to tender to ACT 1st April 2015 2
Presentation of consultancy proposal – for shortlisted consultants 10th
April 2015 3 Signing of consultancy contract 15th April 2015 4
Literature review, field work 15 April – 15 May 5 Develop the full project
proposal 18th May – 18 June Presentation of finding and proposed
interventions to ACT 19th June 2015 6 Presentation of full project
proposal to investors forum 6th August 2015 7 Incorporation of
feedback and submission of final report 15th August 2015
6.0Competencies
The
ideal candidate should have proven combination of experience in Project
Proposal Development, Agricultural Business, Mechanisation as well as
Agriculture and Rural Development. The candidate must demonstrate possession of
research and survey skills. The candidate should have an excellent command of
written and spoken English.
ideal candidate should have proven combination of experience in Project
Proposal Development, Agricultural Business, Mechanisation as well as
Agriculture and Rural Development. The candidate must demonstrate possession of
research and survey skills. The candidate should have an excellent command of
written and spoken English.
7.0Qualification &
Experience
Experience
·
Advanced Degree in Agribusiness, Agronomy, Mechanisation and Project
Development from recognized institutions
Advanced Degree in Agribusiness, Agronomy, Mechanisation and Project
Development from recognized institutions
·
Work experience of more than 10 years in key areas
Work experience of more than 10 years in key areas
·
Excellence in the English language, both written and oral is required.
Excellence in the English language, both written and oral is required.
·
Current CV of the applicant is attached.
Current CV of the applicant is attached.
8.0Evaluation Method
Assigning
the Consultant and evaluating the performance is the responsibility of African
Conservation Tillage Network. ACT will conclude a contract and evaluate
performance of the Consultant on the basis of agreed upon terms of reference.
the Consultant and evaluating the performance is the responsibility of African
Conservation Tillage Network. ACT will conclude a contract and evaluate
performance of the Consultant on the basis of agreed upon terms of reference.
Interested
consultants orconsulting firms are requested to submit their Expression of
Interest by 1stApril 2015 and consultancy proposals (technical and
financial) to the appended email by 10thApril 2015. The consultant will
be selected on the basis of their proven experience, qualifications and ability
to deliver a quality product in time and in efficient manner.Email: info.tz@act-africa.org
consultants orconsulting firms are requested to submit their Expression of
Interest by 1stApril 2015 and consultancy proposals (technical and
financial) to the appended email by 10thApril 2015. The consultant will
be selected on the basis of their proven experience, qualifications and ability
to deliver a quality product in time and in efficient manner.Email: info.tz@act-africa.org
For
more information visit ACT website : www.act-africa.org
more information visit ACT website : www.act-africa.org
