Request for Proposals For Hiring of Consultants for Value Chain Sector Studies For Sustainable Land Management Project (Farmers Mobilization)

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About the Organization

The Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) is a not for profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 incorporated under the Planning Department of the Government of Meghalaya.

About the Proposal

The Meghalaya Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project, funded by KfW, aims to establish sustainable land management practices and value chains on a pilot basis through an efficient, functional support structure for roll-out at state level. Initiatives will include promoting organic farming, addressing certification challenges, empowering farmers through capacity building, and linking organic produce to remunerative global markets. It will also help the project’s participating institutions to prepare for building a solid foundation for implementing scalable and replicable sustainable farming and value chain models, while ensuring sustainable natural resources management, productivity improvement, climate change mitigation, and creation of livelihood opportunities.

The SLM Project has four main components:

• Component 1. Organic Farming Production and Diversification The focus of this component is to enhance organic farming competitiveness at the farm level by supporting access to knowledge, technology and finance in order to increase long term productivity and farm income.
• Component 2. Value Addition & Upgradation of Aggregation Infrastructure. This component will enhance value addition at the farm level, through improved post-harvest handling and processing of their organic produce, to meet the demands of high value organic markets, and support increased investment in the development of value chains.
• Component 3. Establishing Effective Markets Linkage. This component will prepare a market linkage strategy which will be designed to overcome existing constraints and increase the throughput volume of organic produce from Meghalaya that reaches markets, supermarkets and other retailers, distributors, and export markets, and realizing better sale prices for farmers.
• Component 4. Organic Certification for Premier Organic Markets. The objective of this component is to enhance the institutional capacities of the executing agency and implementing partners, and beneficiaries to facilitate the transition towards sustainable agricultural practices, ensure organic certification and the smooth delivery of the project.

The MBMA is the executing agency for the project and shall be responsible for overall coordination, implementation and monitoring of the project. PMU has been established within MBMA and is headed by Project Director. The PMU will be responsible for overall management and coordination of all the project outputs.

The SLM project will be implemented by the MBMA with support from its implementing partners, which are the Directorate of Horticulture under Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the Bio-Resources Development Center (BRDC), and the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS).

The SLM project aims to support farmers, farmers groups and cooperatives such as Farmer Producer Organizations, Producer Groups, SHGs, Integrated Village Cooperative Societies Ltd. etc and aim to strengthen the operations of established Collective Marketing Centers (CMCs), Primary Processing Units (PU), PRIME Hubs, and Tertiary Centers such as the LIFE Spices.

The project will demonstrate the conversion of various traditional/natural farming systems of Meghalaya into organic farming under two established systems of certification viz., NPOP and PGS. Besides, a novel state-specific organic certification Programme, targeting the regional and domestic markets, will be initiated, codified and implemented as “Megha Organics” to make the organic certification Programme in Meghalaya cost-effective and affordable by the farmers.

Objectives

MBMA is seeking to hire a firm to collaborate closely with the PMU in conducting a detailed analysis of selected organic value chains in Meghalaya. The goal is to formulate the Meghalaya Organic Farming Linkages Masterplan, which will serve as a roadmap for government, private sector, and other key stakeholders. This masterplan aims to develop a modern, efficient, and sustainable organic farming ecosystem, providing policy recommendations and identifying investment gaps.

The consultant will be hired by MBMA as per the KfW’s Procurement Regulations. Hired consultant will be expected to work in close collaboration with MBMA, IMC, and with any other consultants hired as part of project implementation.

The objectives of the proposed technical assistance are:

• To conduct diagnostic assessment of the current situation, identify key constraints and opportunities, and elaborate a detailed analysis and mapping of the selected organic value chains in the State of Meghalaya; turmeric (processed), ginger (fresh and processed), pineapples (fresh), oranges/mandarines, (fresh), cashewnut, (processed), pepper (processed), bayleaf (processed) and Jackfruit (fresh)
• To formulate the the Meghalaya Organic Farming Linkages Masterplan, which shall serve as a guide for the government and other stakeholders including the private sector to develop and implement an efficient, modernized, and sustainable statewide organic farming system.

Project Area and Location

The study will cover the three regions of Meghalaya: the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills in twelve districts, where all field activities, will be conducted.

Scope of work

Scope of Work The indicative list of activities provided below constitutes the minimum to be carried out and is not exhaustive. The tenderer should hence revise the indicative list and prepare a detailed organisation and methodology to fulfil the general requirements set out in these terms of reference. The specific tasks of this contract are described below. The order these tasks are listed in does not imply they should be carried out chronologically. They will likely be implemented in parallel or be overlapping. Beyond the tasks described hereunder, some flexibility is envisaged on the overall services to cover potential needs that may emerge during project implementation.

The Contractor should use best experience and practice from similar undertakings and add additional outputs as deemed appropriate, to achieve project objectives and results in the most effective and sustainable manner.

The Consultant's tasks shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Value Chain & Development of Meghalaya Organic Farming Master Plan

• Activity 1. Data gathering and literature review
• Activity 2. Mapping of actors
• Activity 3. Analysis of selected value chains
• Activity 4. Conduct a key stakeholder analysis and workshops, consultations, and meetings with various stakeholders throughout the implementation
• Activity 5. Identify the gaps of selected value chains
• Activity 6. Identify market opportunities and the market requirements
• Activity7. Review and analyze the related government strategies, laws and regulations, policies, public investment masterplans and flagship programs, institutional arrangements and regulatory framework
• Activity 8. Master Plan formulated
• Activity 9. Platform for public consultation established and knowledge disseminated

Eligibility

• The Bidder should be a Company registered under the Companies Act, 1956/ Proprietary Firm / Society Act etc.
• Attested copy of Company’s PAN and GST details
• The applicant firm must have an Average annual turnover of INR 50 Lakhs (Indian Rupees Fifty Lakhs only). In the previous three financial year viz., 2021-22, 2022- 23 & 2023-24.
• The Consultant should be an experienced Consultancy Firm well established with at least 7 years of relevant and applicable technical,operational and managerial experience in the agriculture and agri-business sector
• The firm should have implemented atleast 3 similar contracts achieved during the last 7 years
• Experience in working in the State of Meghalaya would be considered an asset
• Self-declaration in the firm’s letter head (seal and singed) to the effect the bidder is not insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt or being wound up or subject to legal proceedings for any of these circumstances.
• Self-declaration in the firm’s letter head (seal and singed) that the bidder’s business activities are not suspended or debarred

How to Apply

The deadline for the submission of Proposals shall be 5 th December, 2024 at 5:00 PM (IST)”

All Clarifications requests shall be addressed to mbmaprocurement@gmail.com

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Tags Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)