Consultant-Vegetable Wholesale Market in Panauti Municipality: Feasibility/ Viability Assessment

Winrock International KISAN II Project

Details / requirements:

Consultant-Vegetable Wholesale Market in Panauti Municipality: Feasibility/ Viability Assessment 

The Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN) II Project is a USAID funded five-year initiative designed to increase the resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in twenty-five Hill and Terai districts in provinces 3, 5, 6 and 7.  KISAN II’s approach begins with the identification of constraints within key market systems and then addressing those constraints through project partners and initiatives. At the core of the KISAN II private sector-led facilitative approach is promoting the business case for buyers, intermediaries, and service providers to improve their business outcomes through more substantial engagement with producers and other value chain actors. KISAN engages partners across components, holistically supporting market system development by addressing issues related to marketing and business capacity (Component 2), farm-level productivity (Component 1), the enabling environment (Component 3), support for resiliency and integration of poor, marginalized populations (Component 4), and adaptive management (Component 5) to ensure maximum impact.

A. Rationale and approach of the feasibility study

PanautiNagarPalikais in the south-western part of Kavre District within the jurisdiction of Province 3. It has 12 wards with an area of 118 square kilometers and it has a population of around fifth six thousand. It is an agricultural production hub, particularly for produce, like potatoes, paddy, oranges, and dairy. Roshi, Khopasi, Kushadevi and Balthali are major agricultural production areas of Nagar Palika. Besides these commodities, people here have taken up small-scale industries and businesses, such as animal husbandry, as a source of income. PanautiNagar Palika borders other municipalities, which are considered agricultural production hubs, such asBethanachowk and Namobaudhha. 

Panauti Nagar Palika has some vegetable and fruit collection points at Khopasi, Panauti, and Kusadevi, but there is no established vegetable and fruit market infrastructure within Nagar Palika which caters to the needs of collection centers.  Local farmers and cooperatives engaged in vegetable and fruit farming, including existing and potential KISAN II grantees, have identified the need for more collection points/centers and one market hub within Nagar Palika. 

KISAN II implements program activities within PanautiNagar Palikatohelp farmers through three grants(two cooperatives and one SACCO) reaching almost 1,800 households in 9 wards. Two more cooperatives are under grant negotiation with potential reach to an additional 1,800 households.

Details of households by KISAN II grantee

SN

Grantee

Status of Grantee

Households

Working ward of PanautiNagar 

Palika

1

BISCOL, Banepa

Under Implementation 

473

4,5,8,9,10,12

2

Patikhoriya coop, Kushadevi

Under Implementation 

1251

1,2,3

3

JanjagritFalfulThataTarkaliSahakari

Under Implementation 

73

5

4

GaurishankharMahila Bikash Multipurpose Cooperative Limited, Malpi

Under Negotiation

1500

4,5,6,8,9,10

5

Shree Gaubeshi Sana Kisan Agriculture Cooperative Limited, Balthali

Under Negotiation

530

10, 11

 

 

Total

 

3827

 

Existing and potential grantee cooperatives identified the need for collection points in different strategic places to sell their vegetable produce. They are considering collectively establishing collection points, and building and operating a market hub/umbrella collection center linked to other collection centers and forward markets at Banepa in KavreDistrict, and  Koteswor and Kalimati in Kathmandu District.

In the meantime, PanautiPalika has already adopted the Agrobusiness Promotion Act in February 2018, which allows the Municipality to establish agri-markets anywhere within PanautiPalika. It also allows private businesses/cooperatives to establish agricultural markets, with due permission from the Palika. There is a possibility for PanautiPalika to consider developing an infrastructural development program, either of its own initiative, or in partnership with private sector /cooperatives, to establish and operate the management of important and feasible agricultural markets.

Against the backdrop of leveraging support for infrastructure development from the Panauti Nagar Palika, a coordination meeting was organized in NaragPalikaon July 5, 2019, in whichKISANII team members and partners (BISCOL and Prathikhoriya Cooperative)met with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Panauti Municipality to inform them about plans and progress of business activities linked with vegetable value chains. The KISAN II representatives emphasized marketing issues and constraints as well as the importance of creating infrastructural collection facilities, to serve as market hubs, which can facilitate easy access to farmers’ produces in local and regional markets. The local cooperatives, KISAN II team members, and Panauti Nagar Palika representatives agreed to work on a collaborative approach, based on a feasibility study on collection centers and Nagar Palika Central Market, to be conducted by KISAN II. the mayor and Deputy Mayor agreed to support the findings and recommendations of a feasibility study, and KISAN II grantees working in the municipality agreed to collaborate on the study, as needed.

The Mayor/Deputy Mayor’s commitment and grantees’ cooperation on a feasibility study presents KISAN II with an opportunity to create an enabling environment and extend its support to local governments to enhance their capacity to leverage their resources for private/cooperative sector initiatives and for investments in infrastructure development and management, which can improve farmers’ access to markets. Thus, as a part of building capacity of local government agencies to improve investments in support of market system development (Activity 3.4.1), KISAN II will assist Panauti Nagar Palikain undertaking a feasibility study to establish and operate new collection points/centers and a new wholesale market for fresh vegetables produced within the vicinity of Panauti Nagar Palika.

B. Overall objectives of the feasibility study

The overall objectives of the proposed feasibility study areto analyze opportunities for establishing and operating new collection points/centers and a new wholesale market within and around PanautiNagarPalika, and to ensure marketing of farmers’ produce and to help vegetable and fruit traders and consumers buy and sell agricultural commodities at market hubs. These activities can also help consumers get quality produce from a specified location.

To effectively market vegetables, PanautiMunicipality is seeking KISAN II’s support in conducting a feasibility study covering the following aspects:

  • Existing trends of vegetable production and marketing within the vicinity of Panauti Municipality;
  • Situation of existing collection centers and identification of potential sites for new collection centers;
  • Prospect of establishing anassembly and/or a wholesale market in PanautiBazaar toaggregate vegetables from different collection points;
  • Transportation (vehicle) management required for proper marketing; and
  • Prospect of establishing market linkages/outlets in Kathmandu, Banepa, and Dhulikhel.

 C. Specific tasks to be considered in the feasibility study:

  • Assess the current situation of vegetable production, collection, and marketing in Panauti and surrounding Palikas, from which the prospect vegetable and fruit flow exists. (This includes examining market opportunities, and preliminary mapping of the supply and demand sides of the market.);
  • Suggest type and size of collection centers and market hub market facilities needed, along with proposed locations. (Initial choice and suitability of collection points and wholesale market site required to cater to the needs of grantee farmers.);
  • Specify desirable market characteristics, including physical, traffic, environmental/solid waste, supply and demand prospects, socials aspects, and support needed from local society;
  • Suggest collection center and market hub layout (i.e. appropriate physical infrastructure and their design aspects);
  • Suggest institutional arrangements of collection points and proposed market hub. The study should advise on whether or not it is feasible to construct collection points and market hub at the identified locations, along with the modality to establish and operate collection points and a market hub, if feasible;
  • Identify local perceptions of traders, transporters, and consumers on this prospect;
  • Identifysocio-cultural and environmental issues, risks, or problems that may need to be addressed;
  • Assess the economic viability (via an initial economic and financial analysis) of establishing collection points and a central market hub in PanautiNagar Palika(i.e. payback period and financial analysis, net present value, annual equivalent and internal rate of return) and estimate development and operational costs.
  • Recommend a legal framework for marketing activities that may need to be established, together with the introduction of new market regulations;
  • Identify potential investors and the level of participation of potential stakeholders, such as municipalities, traders, banks, other private companies, and individual investors;
  • Explore potential local authority budgetary contributions (i.e. the prospect of leveraging budgetary support from Nagar Palika for collection centers/ market establishment), or the potential to establish and operate market hubs via a public private partnership (PPP) model;
  • Explore the prospect of support services, including accessibility to transportation, security, banking, vehicle parking, packhouse operation, etc.;
  • Make suggestions for future market expansion and the prospect of establishing market linkages with bigger regional or terminal markets; and
  • Suggest user-friendly functional MIS linkages using ICT via modern means, such as internet, cell phones, FM radios, etc.

The consultant will prepare a report based on the feasibility study in two stages:

In first stage, the consultant will implement a field survey and conduct consultation meetings with stakeholders to generate the information required for the specific tasks stated above. The consultant will share preliminary findings in a consultative review meeting with the Municipal authority (Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and other officials) and with other key stakeholders /potential partners, who will then agree on options and interim recommendations based on location, size of market, potential resource mobilization, and legal/administrative requirements.

In the second stage, the consultant will prepare a ‘pre-feasibility’ study report based on the options and interim recommendations agreed in the first stage, as well as in-depth analyses of supply and demand findings, perspectives on a PPP model, and financial requirements. The consultant will then and make final recommendations on the action plan and strategies for market establishment and operations.

D. Requirements on qualifications and experience of the consultant:

The consultant should have a Master’s degree in agricultural economics or business management, along with 10+ years’ experience in agricultural market development activities, as well prior experience preparing feasibility studies for agricultural markets.

E. Level of effort of consultant:

The proposed level of effort (LOE) for this consultancy is 45 days, inclusive of approximately15 days of field survey/meetings in and around Panauti Municipality (the production and market catchment areas).

KISAN II will make available one intern or research assistant to assist the Consultant in field data/information collection for a maximum period of 10 days LOE.

F. Time schedule for the assignment:

The proposed timeline for this consultancy is September 30, 2019 through December 30, 2019.

G. Deliverables and timelines:

The consultant will prepare and submit the following deliverables:

  • Draft pre-feasibility study report sent to KISAN II for comments/suggestions (due at the end of November 2019) 
  • Revised draft of pre-feasibility study report sent to KISAN II for getting feedbacks and comments from Panauti Municipality and KISAN II grantees (due by mid-December 2019)
  • Final study report addressing issues /comments from Panauti Municipality and KISAN grantees (due by end-November 2019.)

Disclaimer:  

Issuance of this notice does not obligate Winrock International to award a Consultancy Service, nor will Winrock International pay any costs associated with the preparation or submission of application.  Furthermore, Winrock International reserves the right to reject any and all applications, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of Winrock International.  The consultancy service is contingent upon donor approval.

Applicants should submit:

  • Application letter
  • CV
  • Expected daily rate (copy of VAT certificate is must if the total consultancy value exceed NRs. 500,000)
  • copy of contract/agreement, or other proof of documents of two latest assignments.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates can post the required documents to Jobs.KISAN@winrock.org within 16th September 2019. Applicants should reference Consultant-Feasibility Study in the subject line. Applications received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.

Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Experience Please check vacancy details.
Education Please check vacancy details
Posted Date 06 Sep, 2019
Apply Before 16 Sep, 2019
City Kathmandu