Consultancy for the External Review of Rangeland Management (RAMA) Project Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Afghanistan

Summary : Consultancy for the External Review of Rangeland Management (RAMA) Project

Deadline : 26 Aug 2021

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 56108476

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : Self Financed

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : SWISS AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION
Swiss Cooperation Office SDC and Consular Agency Kabul Phone Headquarters +41 58 46 21971 Headquarters +93 790 080 800 Fax Headquarters +41 58 46 21974
Afghanistan
Email :kabul@eda.admin.ch/islamabad@eda.admin.ch
URL :https://www.eda.admin.ch

Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy for the External Review of Rangeland Management (RAMA) Project.

The agriculture sector has been recognized by the Afghan government as the backbone for economic development and GDP growth. Around 61% of households depend fully or partially on income derived from agricultural activities, while poverty rate of the people living in Daikundi are higher than average of 54.5%. Up to one third of the Afghan population faces food insecurity, but levels vary significantly between areas. Currently, agricultural productivity is limited by several factors such as outdated agricultural practices, lack of quality inputs, insufficient irrigation infrastructures and a weak extension system. These issues are exacerbated by larger trends: the very high population growth rate leads to a fragmentation of the landholdings; land resources are overexploited, resulting in reduced soil fertility; and climate change affects rain- and snowfall, with droughts and floods becoming more frequent.

Low productivity and high vulnerability characterize farming households, many of whom remain poor and food insecure. This is especially true in Afghanistan-s mountainous Central Highlands and specifically Daikundi. With a poverty rate of 40.5% and food insecurity levels of over 70%, Daikundi is one of the poorest and most food insecure provinces in the country. Access to the mountainous region is difficult and climatic and topographic factors limit agricultural productivity. The long winters allow for only one yearly harvest and only a small portion of the land at the bottom of the valleys can be irrigated and cultivated. Even though the agricultural potential in the province is limited, it is still underused and there is usually little surplus to sell. The main crops grown in Daikundi are wheat, barley, beans and potatoes. Animal husbandry, agricultural productivity, pasture improvement, post-harvest technology, and irrigation system improvements have significant potential for development, as do women-s income generating activities, such as poultry and vegetable production. Almond is the main dry fruit product in Daikundi, but the lack of processing and access to market facilities have resulted in very low prices for this crop during the harvest season. On the other hand, horticulture is a potentially lucrative area for the province with the production of apple and apricot.

Women are strongly involved in agricultural activities particularly in cultivation of fodder, vegetables, cereals, and grains, drying fruit, and shelling nuts. Both women and men are actively involved in raising livestock and poultry in Daikundi, where women are in charge of producing dairy products and processing wool into yarn. On the other hand, men are more involved in trading of livestock and dairy products.

Given the dependence on rangelands and agriculture production of a large part of the population, rangeland rehabilitation is of high significance for the livelihoods of poor rural households in Daikundi. Currently, however, animal husbandry is hampered by rangeland degradation. This limits the ability of farmers to rear animals (cattle and sheep) and make use of rangeland products.

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