TOR for Linking and Establishing Research with Universities for Local Seed Breed Improvements in Afgooye District, Lower Shabelle Region, Somalia

TOR for Linking and establishing research with universities for Local seed breed Improvements in Afgooye District, Lower Shabelle Region.

1. Introduction of the project:

Islamic Relief Somalia is an international humanitarian organization that has been working in Somalia since 2006. We are committed to achieving our core vision of caring for the people of concern in all countries where we work. Our goal is to provide vulnerable communities in Somalia with access to basic needs including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Basic Health services, and Emergency and Livelihood Support.

IR is currently implementing an agricultural project that supports farmers with agricultural input such as high-quality seeds, farm tools, and tractor ploughing, provision of irrigation facilities including canals rehabilitation and solar irrigation systems to build on the revitalization of the agricultural sector and strengthen farmers’ production capacity through skills development and adoption of improved agricultural technologies and practices and hence will improve community resilience through building back better preparedness & response.

2. Objectives of the project:

To build sustainable livelihoods for poor and vulnerable Somali agro-pastoralist in Afgooye district.

Indicators of the project outcome:

Outcome 1: Improving local seeds varieties particularly in cereals which subsequently increase farm productivity and are accompanied by the adoption of improved agricultural technologies and practices

Outcome 2: Improve capacity through skills development and business linkages.

Outcome 3: 1Improve community resilience through building back better preparedness & response

The situation of local seed improvement in farming communities in Afgooye

Agriculture is the main source of income for 90% of households in Afgooye. Similarly, this district is one of the worst affected by food shortages and poor seed for crop production due to floods and conflicts in the districts. The livelihood of affected communities largely depends on agricultural farming. Immediate technical and support services to increase production and linking/establishing Research with Universities for Local seed breed Improvements in Afgooye District would have a multiplier effect in rejuvenating the livelihood of the flood and drought-affected farming communities. The small scale farmers of the affected community in Afgoye

district grow mostly cereal crops mainly maize, sorghum which are stable food for this community followed by cowpea, and vegetable/ fruits crops in small size of the land but don’t meet the food requirement for household consumption due to inaccessibility to certified, high-quality, early maturing seeds good for the climate in the region.

3. Objective of the TOR:

As seeds are the foundation of agriculture, without a steady supply of high-quality seed, yields and crop quality would be greatly decreased. Seed quality plays an important role in the production of agronomic and horticultural crops. Characteristics such as trueness to variety, germination percentage, purity, vigor, and appearance are important to farmers planting crops. Achieving and maintaining high seed quality is the goal of every professional seed producer.

The objective of this ToR is to conduct research-based field practices in which cereal seeds breed mainly maize seeds (SOMTUX variety) will be improved by the local Universities, faculty of agriculture to produce environmentally friendly, fast-growing, and high-quality seeds that are of great benefit to local farming communities. In addition, the university will prepare from the research a practical guideline(handout) to produce high-quality seeds. This information can help seed producers, and farmers understand the important role that seed plays in producing superior crops and landscape plants. This ToR is drafted to execute the linking and establishment of research with universities for local seed breed Improvements in Afgooye District.

4. Outputs expected from the seed breed improvement:

• Produce seeds that are environmentally friendly, high-quality, faster-growing seeds that adapt better to stress, and plants with higher yields and disease resistance with longer shelf life.
• National institutions/ Universities, with the technical capacity to support a robust early generation seed (EGS) seed system.
• A continuous stream of improved varieties for smallholder farmers is generated to achieve greater yields as well as higher incomes and improved livelihoods.
• Increased varietal turnover mitigates losses from evolving climate patterns, and pest and disease complexes, while enabling public-private partnerships for enhanced seed delivery.
• A report on the business models and scenarios of production, marketing, and distribution with a focus on modeling the demand of the seeds covering objectives 1,2, to 3, field visit i.e. Afgooye and project areas/villages, visit seed companies and agro stockists, as well as visits of agricultural production sites (farmlands).
• A comprehensive final report, including an executive summary, covering all work conducted during research exercises.

Pre-requisites for the Consultancy:

• Have technical experts with an Advanced degree in agricultural economics, business development, agronomy, or equivalent. Technical experts having a master’s degree in the above-mentioned degree will be an added advantage.
• 3-5 years of proven experience in linking and establishing Research with farmers for Local seed breed Improvements.
• Successful track record of establishing public-private partnerships, preferable in the seed sector or similar.
• Have the materials and equipment for seed production
• Have access to land that can be grown in different crops for seed production.

Time Frame, Terms, Conditions, and Logistics:

The consultancy will be carried out initially for a period of three to four months by a single consultant company/university, with the possibility to extend the contract based on the progress achieved.

The starting date is as soon as possible.

The consultant university/institution will need to work with its own working equipment. All travel and operational costs will be included in the contract.

Upon signing of the contract, the first installment of 30 % of the final sum will be released, with subsequent releases of 40 % taking place after reaching the milestones as outlined in the objectives above. The final installment will be an additional 30 %.

How to apply:

Interested applicants to submit;

• A cover letter of expression of interest,
  • A résumé,

• A brief proposal explaining how to carry out the task, including the availability of experimental equipment/tools/land for undertaking the assignment.

Please submit your complete bid application to the tender box at Islamic Relief Somalia in Mogadishu office, Km5 Along Zobe – Afgooye Road Behind Ex-Higher Education Ministry Next to Chambers of Commerce Opposite former OIC Office latest 03/03/2022.

 

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