Remote Consultant - Seeds System Development Consultant
Position Summary Expectations - Duties, Responsibilities
Cover Crop Seeds System Objectives:
The assessment has the following objectives:
- Providing a snapshot of the cover crop seeds system in Myanmar and especially in the following provinces: Kayin, Kayah, Mon, and Southern Shan.
- Identification of the most suitable varieties in accordance with geographical areas, soil types and crops.
- Providing an overview of the structure of the supply chains of cover crop seeds systems and key challenges/constraints preventing adoption.
- Mapping of main players in the cover crop seeds system at a country and sub-national level.
- Price analysis for different varieties and estimation of market size.
- Designing of business models to support the diffusion of cover crop seeds in the target areas, leveraging different market players.
Research Questions:
Agronomic and Technical Suitability
- What are the main species of cover crop seeds available in Myanmar?
- Which specific varieties are suitable for the different soil types and farming systems in the target geographical zones?
- What are potential farming models that utilise cover crop seeds? What combination of crops and cover seeds can be utilised?
Market System and Supply Chain
- How are the supply chains to enable access to cover crop seeds structured in Myanmar and in the relevant sub-regions?
- Who are the main actors involved in the production, sales and distribution of the cover crop seeds?
- What quality assurance mechanisms (if any) are used by producers, traders, or distributors?
- What are the current pricing for the cover crop seeds?
- What type of business models can work in the current context and geographical locations to promote the diffusion of cover crop seeds?
Adoption and Farmer Behaviour
- What type of farmers have already adopted cover crop seeds?
- What are the predominant motivations or disincentives for farmers to adopt cover crops in the current agricultural context?
- Cover Crop Seeds Specialist
- Provide an introductory session on cover crop seeds.
- Design the cover crop seeds assessment methodology and submit an inception report and development of data collection tools.
- Working closely with market development coordinator, project manager and regional specialist provide backstop and support in the process of collection of information.
- Organise a system mapping workshop that identifies key systemic actors that should be leveraged for the development of cover crop supply chains.
- Submit the deliverables as indicated under paragraph iv.
- At least five years specialization in cover crop seeds system. Relevant experience includes as distributor, producer of cover crop seeds and/or researcher.
- 3+ years of experience with undertaking this typology of assessments.
- Private sector background is considered an asset.
