Pak Mission Society (PMS)

Project: Building Resilient Kohistan Project

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Conduction of training of agriculture farmers on smart agricultural practices in district Kohistan.

1. 1.     Preamble

Pak Mission Society (PMS) is a National Humanitarian and Development organization established in 2004. It was founded by a group of Christian professionals whose collective vision is to reach the unreached to bring hope, dignity, respect, and share love through emergency relief efforts and delivering long-term rehabilitation and development programs. PMS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Government of Pakistan valid till August 2024. We are certified as NPO as per evaluation standards notified by FBR with Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy. Pak Mission Society has reached and served the unreached communities regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, and social background. The organization catalyzes holistic transformation and development through transparent, fair, and rights-based allocation of humanitarian and development efforts.

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of a significant portion of the population. However, by and large farmers often face challenges such as low productivity, inefficient resource use, and environmental degradation. Farmers of District Kohistan are facing the same issue of low productivity and profitability since they lack modern practices and technologies of smart agriculture. To address these issues and promote sustainable agriculture, PMS aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of farmers in effective and efficient agricultural practices. PMS is in partnership with the Pak Mission Society (PMS) and Humedica International have collaborated in relief and development interventions with the common purpose of bringing hope and comfort to those that are suffering on the fringes of society and to equip and empower populations to move towards a better future. Currently, PMS is implementing a project with the collaboration of Humedica International in Kohistan district under the title of Building Resilient Kohistan through Social Mobilization, Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction, Climate Mitigation, and Livelihood support.

Under the livelihood component, PMS will carry out 1-day climate-friendly agriculture trainings for 100 farmers for increased productivity, enhanced resilience, and reduced emissions Viz. agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fisheries, and dairy farming. These trainings will complement and strengthen the tree and orchards plantations to address the food insecurity due to climate change. The training will focus on modern climate friendly agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fisheries and dairy farming practices involving use of modern knowledge and technology to adapt to new practices including diversification of crops, crop pattern adjustments, increase in yield, production, value addition, branding, and marketing of agriculture and dairy products to ensure income for the farmers. The trainings will compliment and strengthen the climate change mitigation, promote livelihoods, household incomes, and address food insecurity. 

2. Objectives

The primary objectives of the training program are:

• Enhance Knowledge: Provide farmers with up-to-date information on sustainable agricultural practices.
• Improve Productivity: Equip farmers with techniques to increase crop yield and quality.
• Resource Management: Teach efficient use of water, soil, and other resources to minimize waste.
• Adopt Modern Technologies: Introduce farmers to modern farming tools and technologies.
• Environmental Sustainability: Promote practices that reduce environmental impact and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.

3. Scope of Work

The training program will include the following activities:

• Needs Assessment: Conduct surveys and focus group discussions to identify the specific training needs of farmers.
• Curriculum/training module Development: Create a comprehensive training curriculum covering key topics such as:
• Soil health and fertility management
• Integrated pest management
• Efficient irrigation techniques
• Crop rotation and diversification
• Use of organic and inorganic fertilizers
• Post-harvest management
• Introduction to agricultural technologies (e.g., drones, sensors)
• Cultivation of various crops such as grains (wheat, rice, maize), pulses (beans, lentils), oilseeds (soybeans, sunflowers), and vegetables.
• Growing fruits, nuts, and berries in orchards and gardens.
• Developing marketing strategies to sell agricultural products locally or to broader markets.
• Participating in farmers' markets, cooperatives, and direct-to-consumer sales.
• The role of agriculture in sustaining rural communities by providing employment and supporting local economies.
• Social and cultural aspects of rural life and farming traditions.
• Training Delivery:
• Organize on-site workshops and field demonstrations.
• Provide training through interactive sessions, practical exercises, and real-life case studies.
• Distribute training materials, guides, and toolkits.
• Monitoring and Support:
• Conduct follow-up visits to monitor the application of new practices.
• Provide ongoing support and advice to farmers as needed.

4. Expected Deliverables

The expected deliverables from the training program include:

• Needs Assessment Report: Document detailing the specific training needs of the farmers.
• Training Curriculum: Comprehensive curriculum and materials developed for the training sessions.
• Training Sessions: Successful delivery of training workshops three-days training in Kohistan districts).
• Assessment Reports: Reports on pre-and post-training assessments to evaluate knowledge transfer and impact.
• Follow-up Reports: Documentation of follow-up visits and support provided to farmers.
• Final Report: Comprehensive report summarizing the training activities, outcomes, participant feedback, and recommendations for future training.

5. Trainer Qualifications

Trainers should possess the following qualifications:

• Education: Advanced Master degree in agriculture, agronomy, agricultural engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in agricultural training or extension services.
• Expertise: Proven expertise in sustainable agricultural practices and modern farming technologies.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage and educate diverse groups of farmers.
• Local Knowledge: Familiarity with local agricultural practices, challenges, and cultural contexts.

6. Timeline

The training program will be implemented over a period of one month:

Need Assessment

Curriculum Development  

Training Workshop

Final Report Submission

7. Budget

The budget for the training program will cover:

• Personnel Costs: Fees for trainers, facilitators, and support staff.
• Training Materials: Costs for developing and printing training guides, toolkits, and other resources.
• Logistics: Expenses for travel, accommodation, venue rental, and refreshments for training sessions.

7. Evaluation criteria: The consultant will be evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria.

8. Submission of Technical and financial proposal: The consultant will submit their technical and financial proposal at following address Pak Mission Society - H-333, Street # 29, G 14/4 Islamabad.