Job offer

Roots of Peace (ROP) is implementing an agriculture development project entitled the Grape Value Chain Project (GVCP), funded by the World Bank Horticulture and Livestock Project (HLP). The purpose of the Grape Value Chain Pilot Project is to test and document an approach to improving the efficiency of a selected value chain, that is, the chain of producers and marketers who produce and market a given product from a given area. The target product in this project is grape from the area around the HLP Focus Cluster at Mir Bacha Kot, Kabul Province, Afghanistan, which is located in the Shamali Plain just north of Kabul. The expected outcome of the GVCP is a document describing the value chain improvement process for replication elsewhere and improvement in the efficiency of the Grape Value Chain linking the Mir Bacha Kot farmers to the markets for grapes. The volume and sales of table grapes from the project area will increase measurably and grower returns will show an increase over past years. 

The action plan is to work with farmers and merchants to implement two marketing strategies:

1.      Export of graded, field-packed, un-chilled Kishmishi grapes, treated with Gibberellic Acid (Gib) and packed in locally-made, international standard, quality wooden crates to up-scale buyers in Pakistan. HLP support will be acknowledged on merchants’ labels placed on the crates.

2.       Sale of graded, field-packed, chilled Kishmishi and Shindul Khani grapes, treated with Gib, to the international food supply firms in Afghanistan that are supplying food to the expat community, including hotels, restaurants and the international military. The same wooden crate described above is planned for use; however, trials with a modern, paper carton may be possible. HLP support will be acknowledged on merchants’ labels placed on the crates.

Detailed tasks

·        Develop and implement a quality control and assurance program for the products packed at the Mir Bacha Kot pack house. This will include vineyard as well as pack house operations. Assist the farmers’ organization to develop a quality control mechanism, which will include development of a collection point at village and cluster levels, providing information on quality (size, timing of picking), etc.

·        Assist in informing/training Afghan farmers and merchants of the requirements and benefits of a quality control and quality assurance program.

·        Provide emerging private sector players with training in grading, sorting and processing of fresh table grapes.

·        Advise on the development of infrastructure appropriate for the level of fresh fruit marketing.

·        Develop grades and standards for Kishmishi grapes.

·        Provide market information, in particular, fresh grape quality standards of major export markets to HFP and IPM FP for translating them into extension messages and support programs related to the production of grapes.

·        Assist the target farmers’ organization to sell fresh grapes to the participating market channels.

·        Assist in the development of the following manuals:

o      Harvesting for Quality Manual

o      Post Harvest Handling Manual

o      HACCP Manual for Pack Houses.

Period of Engagement

This is a short-term, one to two month consulting assignment.

Remuneration

The consulting fee for this assignment will be based on the consultant’s previous fee schedule or salary. The consultant’s previous fee/salary must be documented by previous employers.

Contact:
J.D. Zach Lea, Ph.D.
Roots of Peace Country Director
+93 (0) 794-677-212
zach@rootsofpeace.org

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