TOR for Agricultural Marketing Expert (AME) for VANAMATI

Transcription

1 Background: TOR for Agricultural Marketing Expert (AME) for VANAMATI The Government of Maharashtra through Government of India has applied for a loan from International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for implementation of Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project. The Project Development objective of the Maharashtra Agriculture Competitiveness Project (MACP) is to increase Agricultural Productivity and Marketable surplus as well as support competitive marketing arrangements resulting in increased farmer access to market opportunities. The objectives will be achieved through (i) Intensification and diversification of market lead production; (ii) Improving Farmer access to Markets by Promoting alternative Markets and Modernizing existing APMC and (iii) project coordination and management. The components of the project are briefly stated below; Diversification and intensification of production will include market led extension by making extension and adaptive research more relevant and accessible to farmers, with capacity building of extension machinery of the line departments viz. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and the farmers through trainings, demonstration and exposure visits. Expanding market infrastructure and market opportunities by improving market and associated infrastructure and making market management more responsive to farmers needs. Private sector investment in infrastructure will be encouraged, including introduction of risk mitigation systems, especially for small producers. Project management would help to ensure effective project management at the state and the district levels, and support information and logistics, communications, project related consultancies and monitoring and evaluation. Objective: The project intends to put in place a process that would empower farmers to be able to respond positively to the accelerating changes in the agricultural marketing by creating enabling conditions and support for production systems diversification, increased farm productivity, improved product quality and realization of value addition opportunities. In this context, knowledge and technology will play an important role. The component A of the project therefore, supports ATMA model of extension to reach its full potential by shifting the focus of extension from production to include marketing extension, provision of both short term market information and long term market intelligence, coupled with greater use of information technology for information dissemination.

2 Need for Agricultural Marketing Expert (AME): Farmers need to know what kind of crops they should grow to maximize returns from unit land; which produce has the demand in the market and what quality of produce is preferred in the markets, appropriate markets, market prices,transport facilities, value addition techniques,,credit, insurance facilities available. The information on these issues is important for production planning and efficient marketing by the farmers in order to obtain larger slice of rupee in the value chain, especially in the current marketing scenario. The present agri extension system is production centered and there is pertinent need to transfer knowledge /information regarding marketing of agriculture commodities to the farmers. The system in general needs to be strengthened in this perspective. The project seeks to address this by reorienting and reinvigorating it with provision of qualified manpower. It is envisaged that one Agricultural Marketing Expert would be positioned in VANAMATI, one in PIU (Agriculture) and one in each ATMA to support and carry forward the theme of marketing extension under the project. This should lead to transfer of marketing and agribusiness related information to the farmers, farmer associations, and farmer groups/agripreneurs through ATMA. Transfer of marketing information on regular basis should result in promotion of agribusiness, empowerment and increased income to the farmers. Qualification and Experience for Agril. Marketing Expert at VANAMATI The Agricultural Marketing Expert should be MBA in Marketing/ MBA in Agribusiness / Post graduate Diploma in Agribusiness from a recognized University. Should have 3 years experience in marketing, preferably in agricultural marketing Should be below 35 years of age Should be willing to work in rural areas involving extensive touring Candidates having the experience of working in a World Bank aided project will be preferred. Candidate should have knowledge of Marathi. Deliverables for Agril. Marketing Expert (AME) at VANAMATI 1. AME will lead in SREP Marketing Strategy Supplement (SREP- MSS) preparation taking into consideration the developmental potential of the district. 2. Facilitate and co-ordinate implementation of the project activities under components A and B of the project. 3. Liaise with ABDF and undertake specific programme for entrepreneurship development training.

3 4. Liaise with financial institutions, insurance companies, spot exchange and pass on useful information to AME ATMA. 5. Acquire and disseminate market related useful information/intelligence to AME ATMA. 6. Arrange to undertake special studies across the market for important commodities grown in the district. 7. Guide the line departments in implementation of various marketing extension activities. 8. Disseminate the post harvest and value addition activities to be undertaken to AME ATMA. 9. Reporting regarding target and achievements. Contractual Hiring Terms and Conditions: 1. The AME will be hired purely on contractual basis, co-terminus with the project. 2. The continuation of contractual appointment will be subject to satisfactory annual performance appraisal of the incumbents. 3. The AME will perform duties under guidance / directives of VANAMATI TORs for the Contractual Staff (Agribusiness Specialist and M & E Specialist) at VANAMATI Background: The Government of Maharashtra through Government of India has applied for a loan from International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and development for implementation of Maharashtra Agricultural competitiveness Project. The Project Development objective of the Maharashtra Agriculture Competitiveness Project (MACP) is to increase Agricultural Productivity and Marketable surplus as well as support competitive marketing arrangements resulting in increased farmer access to market opportunities. The objectives will be achieved through (i) Intensification and diversification of market lead production; (ii) Improving Farmer access to Markets by Promoting alternative Markets and Modernizing existing APMC and (iii) project coordination and management. The components of the project are briefly stated below; 1. Diversification and intensification of production will include market led extension by making extension and adaptive research more relevant and accessible to farmers, with capacity building of extension machinery of the line departments viz. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and the farmers through trainings, demonstration and exposure visits.

4 2. Expanding market infrastructure and market opportunities by improving market and associated infrastructure and making market management more responsive to farmers needs. Private sector investment in infrastructure will be encouraged, including introduction of risk mitigation systems, especially for small producers. 3. Project management would help to ensure effective project management at the state and the district levels, and support information and logistics, communications, project related consultancies and monitoring and evaluation. Objective The component A of the project supports ATMA model of extension to reach full potential by shifting the focus of extension from production to include marketing extension, provision of both short term market information and longer term market intelligence coupled with greater use of information technology for information dissemination. VANAMATI, a premier apex extension management training institute in the state will provide guidance, training and technical backstopping to the extension mangers/workers of the line departments linked with district ATMA bodies during the project period. Continuous mentoring of district ATMA bodies is essential for effective implementation of project activities in Component A and B. This will also facilitate effective project management and monitoring. A. Agribusiness Specialist (ABS): Need The project seeks to move the farmers up the value chain and enable them to claim larger slice of consumer spending on agricultural products.this sets in motion various agribusinesses starting from primary processing to credit, insurance, exchanges, export etc. Information regarding opportunities available in agribusinesses needs to be passed on to the farmers by ATMA on a continuous basis so that farmers could participate and benefit from them. Farmers also need to be enlightened as to how they could set up agribusiness and become agripreneurs. Multifaceted information, linkages with various agencies/ institutes, project formulation becomes key aspect in the process. ATMA at district level will need to be enlightened, updated on these aspects on regular basis by VANAMATI.In order to equip VANAMATI to shoulder this responsibility; it will need the service of an expert in Agribusiness during the project period. Qualifications and experience 1. The Agribusiness Specialist should be MBA in Agribusiness/Post Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness, 2. Should have 5 years experience in agribusiness. 3. Should be below 40 years of age. 4. Should be willing to work in rural areas involving extensive touring. 5. Candidates with experience of working in a World Bank aided project will be preferred. 6. Candidates should have knowledge of Marathi.

5 Deliverables Tasks to be performed by Agribusiness Specialist (ABS) 1. ABS will train district core teams in preparation of SREP-MSS of all districts. 2. Visit districts, guide core team in collection of primary and secondary data, formulation of marketing strategy plan and identification of respective extension activities to promote agribusiness. 3. Arrange workshops on agribusiness at district places for the benefit of district and taluka level officers of line departments involved in the project. 4. Visit FIACs, interact with BTTs, FACs and guide them in formulation of Block Action Plans to include agribusiness. 5. Interact with CIG/FIG/PGs leaders formed and provide specific guidance, help then on agribusinesses to be undertaken by them. 6. Liaise with ABDF, PCU, PIU of line department and guide line department officers on undertaking specific activities, like trainings, meetings of agripreneurs.abs will also help them identify, explore agribusiness potential in the district. 7. Arrange trainings of RAMETI faculty members for capacity building. 8. Reporting regarding targets and achievements Contractual Hiring Terms and Conditions 1. The Agribusiness Specialist will be hired purely on contractual basis, coterminus with the project. 2. The continuation of contractual assignment will be subject to satisfactory annual performance of the candidates. 3. The ABS would perform duties under the guidance of Director VANAMATI and PIU (Agriculture) B. Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (M&ES): Need The project envisages implementation of a number of activities under component A and B. Each activity is supposed to be implemented within a specified time schedule and is expected to create a positive impact. Implementation of each of these activities needs to be monitored at regular time intervals.also impact assessment needs to be done periodically. This would require conduct of survey by a third party so that the bias doesn t creep in the process. VANAMATI being an autonomous institute could be entrusted with the responsibility to monitor and evaluate the implementation process, performance and impact created in the field as a result of the project implementation across the project area.vanamati would therefore need to be provided with the service of an expert in monitoring and evaluation during the project period.

6 Qualifications and experience 1. The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist should be M Sc (Statistics)/ MA (Economics). 2. Should have 5 years experience in Monitoring and Evaluation. 3. Should be below 40 years of age. 4. Should be willing to work in rural areas involving extensive touring. 5. Should have worked in a World Bank aided project. 6. Candidates should have knowledge of Marathi. Deliverables Tasks to be performed by Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist 1. M&ES will organize trainings in monitoring and evaluation for the officers and staff of line departments. 2. Design the questionnaire and carry out bench mark survey of all districts before implementation process starts as per action plan. 3. Design the questionnaire and carry out 6 monthly monitoring cum evaluation survey in all districts to see that the implementation of project activity is being conducted as per schedule and it creates the desired impact. 4. Design the questionnaire to carry out 3 monthly surveys on adoption rate of demonstration in successive year of implementation. 5. Liaise with state level PIUs, PCU Monitoring and Evaluation Unit and district officers of all line departments to get the feedback, data on project implementation, analyze the data and bring out reports of surveys as per schedule. 6. Submit the survey report and suggest corrective actions to Heads of Department/PCU from time to time for smooth and effective implementation of various project activities. 7. Reporting regarding targets and achievements Contractual Hiring Terms and Conditions 1. The M & E Specialist will be hired purely on contractual basis, co-terminus with the project. 2. The continuation of contractual assignment will be subject to satisfactory annual performance of the candidate. 3. The M&E Specialist will perform his duties under the guidance of Director VANAMATI.