Microsave Consulting - Agri Marketing Consultant

Experience:

- Minimum 5 to 10 years of relevant work experience in agriculture development / agri-marketing consultancy projects

- Prior work experience required with e-NAM; e-trading platforms; Collateral management services; Procurement handling in Agri Business Companies and similar. Experience of working in agri sector in Bihar will be an added advantage.

Qualifications:

- Post-Graduate Degree in Agriculture, Agri-Business Management, Rural Management, Agriculture Engineering, M.Sc. Agriculture from premier colleges (IIM-ABM, MANAGE, IRMA, XIM-B or any other similar institutions.

Type of employment:

-12-month contract (can be extended depending on performance and

project extension.

Role and Responsibilities:

- The individual will be responsible for providing consultancy services in the areas of agricultural and horticulture marketing. It will entail development and implementation support for initiatives and programs related to agricultural and horticultural marketing, with a focus on digital marketing policies, platforms and services for various commodities.

- The planning and implementation of programs and interventions will be done in collaboration with stakeholders such as Directorates of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry, District Agriculture Officers, District Horticulture Officers, Agri Universities etc.

Additional details about the responsibilities for the position include:

Agri value chain assessment and development of marketing ecosystem:

1. Identify opportunities for targeted marketing for key commodities in Bihar (commodities with strategic advantage) and facilitate tie-up/ entry of institutional buyers

2. Proactively undertake analytical studies/supply chain/value chain studies and prepare plans for commodity prioritization, identification of potential private players/target markets

3. Identify and attract lead local and national private sector companies interested to invest in the value chain development in the state and facilitate promotion of such partnerships

4. Continual engagement with major stakeholders- farmers/FPOs, processors, exporters, agri-business companies to understand challenge related to trade of select agri/horticulture produce and facilitate trade of agriculture and horticulture commodities produced in the state through tie-ups

5. Support in carrying out outreach activities, proportional activities for domestic and international markets for Bihar specific products

6. Facilitate farmers group/FPCs on undertaking trade on electronic trading platforms like NCDEX and other similar platforms for commodity trading

7. Design effective IEC strategies such as workshops, public meetings etc. in raising awareness to farmers on the e-NAM scheme and its benefits

8. Providing pro-active recommendations/ suggestions for improving the marketing and value-addition eco-system in the State of Bihar.

Digital initiatives - electronic trading platform & Market information System:

1. Map the requirements of digital initiatives in the agri-marketing space; such as e-trading platform and market information system and understand the possible models for the adoption by the States

2. Develop and manage electronic database to continuously analyze updated market information for Bihar specific commodities from Agri/horticulture sector

3. To support in setting up of necessary infrastructures and IT hardware & related infrastructure etc in identified market yards for e-NAM roll outs

4. Identify opportunities for collaboration with agencies to provide value addition services like assaying, automatic grading & sorting etc.

5. system of quality assaying wherein no farmer is charged for the

6. assaying services

7. Undertake the study of possible alternate models for e-trading of select agriculture commodities in the state and undertake small pilots to assess feasibility of such models

8. Coordinate with Directorate of Marketing and Intelligence (DMI) and other stakeholders to start and strengthen the system for collection of price and arrival data through AGMARKNET

9. Continuous monitoring, supervision and troubleshooting for data collection and uploading on AGMARKNET platform

10. Develop suitable systems for strengthening of market information and intelligence systems for both farmers and other stakeholders in partnership with the service provider agencies.

Stakeholders- engagement and Policy support:

1. Identification and mapping of all the relevant stakeholders and regular consultations with them

- with an objective of collaboration and convergence

2. Pro-active recommendations/ suggestions for improving the marketing and value-addition eco-system in the State of Bihar, from time to time.

3. Facilitate conduct of Buyer-Seller meet with national and international buyers for prioritized agricultural commodities

4. To strengthen post-harvest agriculture finance systems in the state by liaising with financial service providers and warehouses (NCML/ARYA/ERGOS/Sammunati/Banks)

5. Coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, GoI/SFAC for approval of DPRs and release of Grant in Aid to the state

6. Preparation of DPRs for development identified market yards and conducting preparedness exercise for e-NAM Integration

7. Facilitate development infrastructural facilities and services relating to various operations as per e-NAM operational guidelines

8. Identification and mapping of all the relevant stakeholders and regular consultations with them

- with an objective of collaboration and convergence for smooth integration of e-NAM

9. Pro-active recommendations/ suggestions for improving the marketing and value-addition eco-system in the State of Bihar, from time to time.

Skills and expertise.

Technical skills:

- Sound understanding of the agriculture sector in India and recent developments.

- Demonstrated experience and expertise in multiple agri value chain, with a focus on post-harvest management, value-addition and marketing.

- Good understanding of agri and digital technology and emerging and innovative agri business models, including AgTechs and MSMEs, that are transforming agriculture and allied services.

- Experience of managing technology enabled projects in agriculture/ agri-marketing

- Analytical abilities to analyze government policies, programs and implementation strategies of government projects in agriculture.

- Proven experience working with government heads and senior bureaucrats.

Teamwork:

- Excellent ability to work effectively with others in the team

- Experience working with diverse teams

- Experience of managing large teams and complex projects.

- Excellent client management, team management and leadership skills.

Communication Skills:

- Excellent ability to prepare documents, reports and presentations

- Excellent writing and presentation skills.

- Excellent oral communication in English.

- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, particularly senior government officials.

Other Soft Skills:

- Self-motivated and driven.

- Passion to work for rural / agribusiness development areas.

- Abilities and proven experience to work in unstructured / semi-structured environment.