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National Consultant to Develop the Feasibility Study on Sustainable Organic Fresh Fruit Growing and ExportsVacancy Number: Pr13/00378
Background
In the past decade the Moldovan agriculture has undergone significant structural and technological changes. Generally, the income levels remain depressed, while the gap between efficient farms and the subsistence-oriented peasants’ households has further widened. Recent reports suggest that the most detrimental impact of the agriculture on environment comes from the improper crops-rotation, drastic reduction in use of organic fertilizers, the improper use of chemical fertilizers, especially in the small farms, overgrazing, and significant cuts in the field-protecting forest strips. While Moldovan agriculture continuously was faced with emigration of labour force during the last decade, National Report for UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 Rio+20 argues that organic agriculture is the best long-term option to provide sustainable job opportunities in rural communities. Furthermore, the low level application of chemical fertilizers in traditional agricultural entities in Moldova can be harnessed as a real opportunity to pursue organic forms of agricultural production. In terms of export opportunities, the global market demand for organic food is steadily growing. The key destination markets for Moldovan produce follow the same global trend: the EU organic market was estimated at 21.5 bln Euro, while in Russia the total consumer market is estimated at $148 million but with strong growth trends and potential. As competitive pressures are poised to grow in the coming years in the aftermath of the DCFTA implementation, sustainable organic agricultural production might provide a proper niche for Moldovan agri-food exporters and producers. Furthermore, a key characteristic of the sustainable organic agriculture is the replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic ones; from this perspective, the development of sustainable organic agriculture can be significantly supported by the increased use of the biogas installations in rural households and farms, as for instance remnants of converted biomass or biogas can be used as organic fertilizers. The connection of organic agriculture with energy production from biomass in the future could usher in a virtuous sustainable production cycle. For the time being, local producers should definitely focus primarily on possible closed cycles within agricultural field, mainly through combining fruit growing with labor intensive and HVA milk production, for instance. CONTEXT: Overall, the vast majority of the Moldovan producers and, in some cases, also exporters of fresh fruits are small or medium sized enterprises, many of which are members of two active professional associations. For the last two years, UNDP Moldova, via the regional Aid for Trade Project, is implementing a series of specific activities to consolidate the capacities of such associations and their members. The target is enabling primarily fresh fruit producers to further consolidate their collaboration within the existing associations and cooperate for improving their competitiveness both at home and abroad. This is one of the key challenges faced by many producers, which otherwise would not be able to produce sufficiently large and qualitative lots of fresh produce. Besides cooperation for production or sales, producers need to diversify their produce and their target markets. Most probable, focusing more attention on niche markets, including the organic fresh fruit growing, is one way to stay competitive and profitable. Indeed, orientation towards organic production comports certain risks, including, but not limited to: a) expensive productive inputs for many small sized companies, b) high uncertainties related to identifying export opportunities and competitive advantages on potential markets, c) lack of supportive national regulatory framework to promote organic production, d) lack of trust of producers in needed partners along the value chain, particularly because organic fresh fruits require short lead time to market and storage requires sophisticated facilities. Given the risks described, at present, on the local market there are very few companies, which decided to invest in organic fresh fruits production and invested into Global GAP. Their key constraints are lack of needed infrastructure in terms of sorting, pelleting and labelling technologies, lack of access to some technologies and finance, including at the very end stages of the value chain, lack of tools to promote exports and limited knowledge of foreign market opportunities. Trust between producers and the lax contract enforcement mechanisms are also important variables that sometimes result in unachieved profits and missed opportunities. In this context, UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, and being supported by the associations of fresh fruit producers, is seeking to conduct a feasibility study to spot those priority areas and commodities that could or should benefit from more support from State and donors community, so that to encourage substantial cooperation of producers around the idea of organic sustainable fresh fruit production and further consolidate the capacities of the existing associations to support such producers. The organic fresh fruits export promotion is one area in which all key relevant stakeholders shall join efforts to ensure that by the time new investments for organic fresh fruits production are eventually made, needed regulatory and infrastructure frames are already in place. Other important areas and associated benefits and costs shall be identified and analyzed in a participatory and consultative manner. Scope of work
For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference. Requirements for experience
Academic Qualifications:
Experience:
Competencies and Skills:
Documents to be included
Financial proposal
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including daily fee and number of anticipated working days). Travel is not envisaged under this consultancy assignment. In case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs, including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In case of travel in the regions of Moldova (if necessary to be undertaken during the fulfillment of the assignment), the travel services will be ensured by the Project.
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