ToR - Onboarding Agency / Consultant for Awareness, training and capacity-building on regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient post-harvest management

Title	Comprehensive awareness, training and capacity-building initiatives on regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient post-harvest management, for strengthening fruit and vegetable value chains among small & marginal farmers, Bankers and government line departments in the state of Maharashtra.
Timeline	2 Months (After on boarding)
Role	Consultant-Training & Capacity Building
Geography to be covered	Maharashtra
Expected area of expertise	Proven experience & knowledge in climate-resilient agriculture, regenerative organic and natural farming practices Strong background in horticulture crops, post-harvest management and decentralized agriculture technologies. Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality training modules for both farmers and Bankers Experience working closely with grassroots communities, Farming communities, women’s collectives.
Apply Link	https://forms.gle/KJgZLsN9kF3vt4QL6   (Contact Procurement for Form Link)
Last Date for apply	30th November 2025

About SELCO Foundation:

 

SELCO Foundation is an open-source, not-for-profit organization that engages in field-based R&D and ecosystem building for the deployment of clean energy solutions that alleviate poverty by improving access to sustainable energy to underserved communities in tribal, rural, and urban poor areas. The organization works in collaboration with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs, NGOs from various developmental sectors, and educational institutions to link the benefits of sustainable energy to poverty eradication. The organization works across verticals such as energy access, health, and livelihoods with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs, and partners from various developmental sectors. You can find more information about the SELCO Foundation on our organization’s website. (Read more about SELCO here: http://www.selcofoundation.org/)

Background for the project:

The agriculture sector in general, and Maharashtra in particular, faces growing challenges due to erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, soil degradation and unsustainable cultivation practices. Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has contributed to a severe decline in soil fertility, weakened microbial activity and reduced crop productivity and quality. Long- term accumulation of agrochemical residues in fruits and vegetables has raised serious concerns regarding food safety, environmental contamination and public health, threatening both the economic stability of small and marginal farmers and the nutritional security of communities dependent on these crops.

To address these challenges, it is essential to promote regenerative, organic, and natural farming practices that restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and improve water retention while minimizing external chemical inputs. Practices such as natural farming, use of bio- fertilizers, carbon sequestration methods, mulching, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management, SRT technology and crop diversification strengthen soil ecosystems and improve climate resilience. Such climate-resilient agricultural practices are particularly crucial in drought-prone and resource-stressed regions of Maharashtra, where regenerative methods can rebuild productivity while ensuring ecological balance.

While sustainable production is essential, it alone cannot ensure farmer profitability. A significant share of horticulture produce is lost due to lack of climate-resilient post-harvest management systems, inefficient cold chain access, and poor handling practices. Adoption of technologies such as solar-powered cold storage, solar dehydrators, integrated quick freezing, optical graders and sustainable packaging solutions is crucial to minimize post- harvest losses, maintain product quality and allow farmers to access better markets. These interventions also support value addition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance income stability.

The proposed project aims to build awareness, training and capacity among small and marginal farmers, women farmers, farming communities' members, Bankers and government line departments on regenerative agriculture and climate-smart post-harvest management technologies. By linking sustainable production with efficient post-harvest handling and improved access to finance, the project seeks to strengthen Maharashtra’s fruit and vegetable value chains, increase farmer incomes, and enhance climate resilience across the state.

Goal and Objective:

Goal:

The primary goal of the project is to promote regenerative and climate-smart agricultural practices among small and marginal farmers in Maharashtra. By encouraging the adoption of techniques that restore soil fertility, enhance biodiversity, and improve water use efficiency, the project aims to ensure sustainable crop productivity while building resilience against climate variability. These practices will also help reduce dependence on chemical inputs, contributing to safer food systems and healthier ecosystems.

Eligibility Criteria

• Proven experience of 3–5 years in climate-resilient agriculture, regenerative/natural/organic farming, and farmer capacity-building.
• Prior experience working with Farming communities, rural communities or agricultural livelihood programs, knowledge about schemes, technologies.
• Experience in developing training content, delivering structured workshops, and conducting field demonstrations.
• Ability to travel to project locations across the districts of Pune, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Satara, Solapur, Nandurbar, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra; local presence is preferred
• Capability to deliver outputs within required timelines and adapt to changing project needs.

Selection Criteria

• Quality and clarity of proposed methodology and training approach.
• Experience and portfolio in agriculture training, regenerative practices, and technology adoption.
• References from past assignments with farmer groups, Farming communities, NGOs, or agriculture institutions.
• Financial proposal evaluated based on expertise professional team and cost allocation and timelines.

To apply:

Interested consultants / organisations, with relevant experience (please include samples and/or references of the previous similar work as proof of experience) and based out of India are requested to reach out with a detailed proposal giving a brief on the methodology and the process they will uptake for this project, including budgets (with break-ups and explanation), timelines and milestones and submit the same to google form https://forms.gle/ADRFWXHcr4pVnCbJ7 on before 30th November, 2025.

Any further queries please write to procurement@selcofoundation.org with a subject line: “TOR for Training & Capacity Building - in Maharashtra Region.”  on or before 30th November 2025

To download the full ToR, click here: TOR for Training & Capacity Building - in Maharashtra Region

Tags Environment and Sustainability Food, Agriculture and Nutrition