Consultancy Service on VietGap Certification Process of SRI Rice

Short-term national consultancy to provide technical service on the VietGAP certification process for 60 ha of SRI rice of Hoai My Cooperative, Hoai My commune, Hoai Nhon district, Binh Dinh province.

SNV has been working  in Vietnam since 1995. Using market based approaches, SNV  is committed  to  reducing  poverty  by  catalyzing  environmentally  sustainable  solutions  for the poor in agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+.

SNV  is engaged  in  the agriculture  sector  implementing Value Chain,  Inclusive Business and Climate Change adaption and mitigation activities.  SNV is currently implementing a DFAT/Australian Aid funded project Sowing the Seeds of Change: Community-based Climate  Change  Mitigation  through  Sustainable  Rice  to  support  and  build  the capacity of small holder rice producers and provincial agencies to apply the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) - an  innovative, efficient, environmentally sustainable and climate  smart  farming  technique    that  increases  productivity  of  rice  cultivation  while reducing  requirements  for  water,  seed,  synthetic  fertilizers,  pesticides,  herbicides  and labour;    reduce  considerable  volume  of  GHG  emission  and  increase  resilience  for  rice production.  

This  system  is  also  applicable  to  the  central  region where  this  project will upscale  the implementation of  the SRI  system  to  two provinces  in  the  central  region of Viet Nam. Utilising an integrated approach the project includes; inclusive business and value chain development  to  create growth, access  to markets,  jobs,  capacity development,  income increases and wealth for the poor; and explore bio-energy solutions utilising rice residue biomass to reduce GHG emissions and alleviate waste disposal problems.

Hoai My cooperative is one of 07 cooperatives in Binh Dinh province applying the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) under the support of Binh Dinh DARD and expertise of SNV and others. Hoai My  commune, Hoai Nhon district  is  located 80km  far  from Quy Nhon city to the North. Hoai My cooperative has around 300 ha of rice,  in which 60 ha apply the SRI techniques in this 2015 spring crop.  In order to support Hoai My Cooperative in certifying VietGAP standards for 60 ha of SRI rice production, SNV Vietnam is looking for a certification body to provide technical training and VietGAP certification process in the mentioned areas.

Objective 

The  main  objective  of  the  consultancy  is  i)  to  assess,  audit  and  award  VietGAP certification  for  60  ha  of  rice  cultivation  for  the  Hoai  My  cooperative  in  Hoai  My commune, Hoai Nhon district;  ii)  to provide knowledge and    skills on Good Agriculture Practices  (VietGAP)  according  to  standards  setup  by  the  Ministry  of  Agricultural  and Rural Development applied for rice. 

Scope of work

The consultant(s) will fulfil the following tasks, in cooperation with Hoai My Cooperative and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Dinh province. 

• Provide  technical  training  on  VietGAP  standards  for  SRI  rice  for  350  farmer households in Hoai My cooperative who will follow VietGAP standards. 
• Organize  and  facilitate:  Two  training  workshops  (one  in  Quang  Binh  and another in Binh Dinh) on VietGAP certification for rice: potentials, experience and recommendations  for  25-30  participants  per  training  workshop  including  the farmers, cooperative leaders, millers, DARD officers.
• Conduct appraisal and assessment  of  production  conditions  of 60 ha  of SRI rice  of  Hoai  My  cooperative  according  to  the  VietGAP  standards,  and  further VietGAP certification award for 60 ha of SRI rice.
• Develop  a  training  report  and  results  of  VietGAP  certificate  granting, including  recommendations  on  VietGAP  related  capacity  building  and management during production process.

Expected outputs and deliverables

The consultant(s) will be expected to provide following deliverables until 30 April 2015: 

• Methodology and training agenda on VietGAP standards for SRI rice farmers
• Outline  of  presentation,  PPT  presentation,  Agenda  for  Training  workshop  on VietGAP  certification  for  rice:  potentials,  experience  and  recommendations  in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces.  
• Detailed implementation plan and VietGAP assessment methodology according to MARD regulations
• VietGAP assessment according to MARD regulations for 60 ha of SRI rice of Hoai My Cooperative, Hoai My commune, Hoai Nhon district, Binh Dinh province
• Certificate on VietGAP standards for 60 ha of SRI rice of Hoai My Cooperative
• Training report on technical procedures for VietGAP rice production
• Final report on VietGAP assessment and certification (in Vietnamese and English)

Timeframe 

The  consultant(s)  is/are  expected  to  deliver  the  expected  outputs  as  per  the  following schedule between 20 Jan 2015 to 30 April 2015.

• Technical and financial proposal 15, Jan, 2015
• If  selected, detailed methodology and  implementation plan, with documents and other tools to be provided during the assignment 20/Jan
• Deliver VietGAP training during the period 25 Jan – 10 Feb, 2015
• Assess, appraise and grant VietGAP certificate from March 25th, 2015 to April 10th, 2015
• Final report in VN and EN, and contract liquidation by April, 30, 2015

Requirements

• Consultancy  service  providers must  be  organizations/companies  that  have  legal status  and  certified  by  the  Ministry  of  Agricultural  and  Rural  Development  for performing services on assessment and granting VietGAP  certification  for  rice  in Vietnam
• Consultant(s)  providing  services  should  be  capable  and  have  skills  to  provide training and services on assessment and granting VietGAP certification
• Experience  with  VietGAP  training,  development  and  assessment  for  rice production, with more than three service contracts on VietGAP assessment in the last three years.

Application guidelines:

Applications  should  consist  of:  a)  The  updated  profile  of  company/organization  with CV(s)  of  the  proposed  expert(s);  b)  Detailed  proposal  including  work  plan/timetable activities  and  cost  estimates  that  identify  the  number  and  frequency  of  consultant working days  for  fieldwork  for operational and  logistical plans and  revising,  throughout the duration; by both English and Vietnamese languages.

Deadline for application is 5:30pm, 15 Jan 2015, to be sent to:

Mr. Bui Van Minh/ Sustainable Agriculture & Value Chain Advisor 
Email: [email protected] 
and c.c to: [email protected]
Address: SNV - Netherlands Development Organization / 6th floor, Building B, La Thanh
Hotel/ 218 Doi Can street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi