Climate Smart Dairy International Expert At International Executive Service Corps

Title: Climate Smart Dairy Expert

Location of Assignment: Sri Lanka, Regional

Proposed Level of Effort: 30 days

Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2021

Anticipated End Date: March 31, 2022 (this schedule may change based on the pandemic situation in the country and opportunity for travel)

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this assignment is to develop and introduce a climate smart small scale dairy farm model that minimizes its own contributions to climate change and is resilient to climate change effects.

BACKGROUND

IESC’s seven-year, Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) Project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food for Progress program supports farmers and enterprises to meet the increased demand for dairy and aims to catalyze sustainable growth in Sri Lanka’s dairy sector. The project will increase productivity and expand the trade of milk and milk products in Sri Lanka. In partnership with the private and public sectors, the project will increase milk production of participating farmers and farms to 102,429 metric tons by 2024. The project will also ensure 80 percent of beneficiary farmers are earning a price premium due to milk quality.

Sri Lanka’s dairy sector is currently not reaching its productivity and economic potential. This is primarily due to production constraints including an insufficient amount of quality feed available due to seasonal variation, poor animal health as a result of farmers not implementing basic best practices in animal management, inefficient management and utilization of available resources for livestock production, and limited extension services which lead to poor linkages between technology sources, such as research centers, and end users.

The efficiency of milk production is key to climate smart dairy farming. Increasing milk production via the efficient use of land, water, and feed is profitable for farmers who intend to grow their business. It also reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from milk production. MOD has introduced a highly productive farm model in its farmer capacity trainings. This model includes a farm that produces 100 liters per day and has between 15 to 18 animals, of which 8 to 10 animals are milking at any time. In doing so, MOD is promoting productivity through the efficient and effective management of inputs (i.e., fewer animals with more milk). Based on the progress made on this model, MOD sees this as an opportunity to further introduce the concepts of climate smart dairy to these progressive farmers.

Smallholder dairy farmers are significantly impacted from variation in rainfall, shortage of feed and water, disease, and rising temperatures which are the direct results of climate change. These impacts have direct repercussions for dairy farmers and result in the loss of income due to production fluctuations. MOD intends to develop a farming system model through introducing adaptive methods in production, modification of management systems, breeding strategies, manure management, and, equally important, a change in farmer perceptions. Dairy production plays a part in GHG, particularly methane which contributes to climate change. The effects of dairy farming on climate change can be mitigated via the introduction of the following modules:

• Water Smart – Introduction of water conservation and management methods
• Nitrogen Smart – Green manuring and use of leaf charts to identify deficiencies, intercropping**.**
• Climate Smart – Interventions to reduce GHG, enhance carbon sequestration
• Land Smart – Sustainable land use
• Knowledge Smart – Develop a knowledge base, applied research, training program, ICT tools
• Energy Smart – Zero tillage or minimum tillage, improve organic matter retention in soil, manure nutrition management

APPROACH:

MOD will obtain the services of an expatriate consultant complemented through a local organization or an independent consultant locally, with experience in climate smart agriculture/dairy. The consultant will meet with relevant MOD staff to obtain an understanding of progress made in developing efficient dairy farming systems. The consultant will conduct field visits to meet selected farmers to validate their understandings of the MOD systems being implemented. Based on their findings and global best practices, the consultant will be expected to develop a practical localized climate smart small scale dairy farm model that is climate change resilient and minimizes contributions to climate change. It will be important to include a monitoring and reporting procedure to monitor the progress of the climate smart aspects implemented and to quantify reduction in greenhouse emissions and generation of carbon credit from a farm unit to the best extent possible. Upon developing the basic model, the consultant will present and discuss it with key stakeholders in the dairy value chain in both the public and private sectors. The purpose of this assignment is to garner buy-in to introduce the proposed climate smart dairy model to respective farmer groups.

TASKS:

• Conduct desk research on climate smart dairy initiatives implemented/being implemented globally and in Sri Lanka
• Acquire a thorough understanding of MOD’s approach in establishing productive farms and its contributions to climate smart dairy. This is to be done by meeting with MOD staff involved in developing dairy farms as well as directly visiting MOD farmers
• Conduct field visits as needed to assess the operation of MOD farmers and improvement potentials. These visits can be made to individuals or to farmer focus groups.
• Based on the findings, develop a practical climate smart dairy model that suits Sri Lanka with clear measurable outcomes
• Meet with MOD partner stakeholders to solicit further input and validate the proposed model approach and cost estimates
• Develop a monitoring and reporting mechanism to capture reductions in emissions and other footprints such as chemical and energy use
• Develop communication materials on the model and conduct a seminar for dairy sector stakeholders to introduce the proposed climate smart dairy model
• Meet with MOD partners to promote the concept of climate smart dairy and its benefits to farmers as well as dairy processing companies

DELIVERABLES:

• A simple and practical climate smart dairy model for Sri Lanka with targeted reduction in emission and methods to capture these reductions
• A report introducing the concepts and importance of climate smart dairy and justification of the proposed model
• A Power Point presentation and other communication materials on the proposed model and recommended implementation process
• Seminar for industry leaders to promote the model

ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:

This assignment requires a combination of travel to Sri Lanka and remote work. The MOD Project Office will provide hotel accommodation and other logistical arrangements including airfare for the international consultant for travel to Sri Lanka. Approved travel related costs will be covered by MOD Project per U.S. government regulations. The consultant is required to have his/her own computer and all written products need to be in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP/OTHER CONDITIONS:

The consultant will work closely with the Productivity Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. He/she will report to MOD Project Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have experience in developing, assessing and promoting climate smart agriculture systems, including developing evaluation and monitoring procedures for such systems
• Must have a degree in environmental sciences, business, economics, or related field experience with a minimum of five years of professional work experience.
• Past experience in developing climate smart models including monitoring of them to reduce GHG
• Prior experience working on dairy development projects will be an advantage
• Experience work in dairy development in a developing country context will be an added advantage
• Must have good communication and interpersonal and report writing skills in English.