INVITATION FOR BIDS TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO ESTABLISH 20 DEMONSTRATION PLOTS FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH THROUGH NATURAL MEANS
1.0 Background
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Pathfinder International (Pl) in Tanzania are jointly implementing an integrated Program known as Tuungane which addresses Population, Health and Environment (PHE). Agriculture which forms the main livelihood activity on the terrestrial environment has been blamed for the increasing siltation of Lake Tanganyika through unsustainable farming practices. To reduce the soil sediments that have adverse effect to the lake fisheries productivity, Tuungane program aims at supporting smallholder farmers in the Greater Mahale Ecosystem (GME) in improving their agricultural practices through adoption of conservation agriculture/Climate Smart Agriculture. Specifically, the program will build the capacity of farmers to improve fertility of their soils through natural means by the application of farmyard manure and compost onto their farmlands. Apart from improving soils fertility, this will improve soil structure of the farms and become less prone to soil erosion.
Currently, Tuungane program seeks short term consultancy services from an expert in soil fertility to establish 20 demonstration plots for improving soil health through the application of farmyard manure and compost in Buhingu ward.
2. Consultancy Services
The following is the list of needed consultancy services:
2.1. Train farmers on how to prepare compost, prepare 100 tons of compost in collaboration with local community
members and distribute them to 15 farmers to improve fertility of their soils. The 15 farmers will host demonstration plots. The treatments will include compost, farmyard manure, compost + farmyard manure and no compost + no farmyard manure.
2.2 Train farmers on how to apply farmyard manure and procure 100 tons of farmyard manure from local livestock keepers and distribute them to 15 farmers to improve fertility of their soils. The 15 farmers will host demonstration plots. The treatments will include farmyard manure, compost, compost + farmyard manure and no compost + no farmyard manure.
2.3. Ensure that farmers prepare their farms, sow the seeds as per recommended best agricultural practices.
2.4. Provide agricultural extension services at demonstration plots to ensure observation of recommended agricultural best practices for 3 months.
2.5 Prepare and submit to TNC/Tuungane program management a monthly project progress report.
3.0 Eligibility Criteria
Eligible consultants should possess the following minimum qualifications:
- Minimum of Bachelor of Science in agriculture, soil science or agronomy.
- Have an experience of at least 3 years in training farmers, establishing, and supervising agricultural demonstration plots (attach list of completed similar assignments and CV of key personnel).
4.0 Application procedures
Interested organizations or individuals with technical skills and appropriate experiences on the above-mentioned assignment are warmly welcome to submit their electronic Technical Proposals which include a well Itemized Financial Budget and activity time schedule on or before 30th September 2021 by email to: [email protected]. Also attach legal business documents as per Government requirements (License, registration, and TIN/VAT number). Please, note that all application received after the deadline will not be honored.
NOTE: If you have already submitted your proposal, please do not resubmit as it will be considered for the evaluation process.
