Expert Consultant in the cultivation of Chandler Walnut in a subtropical climate. At Acción contra el Hambre España

Action Against Hunger is advertising a vacancy for a consultant in the cultivation of the Chandler Walnut in the humid, subtropical climate of Abkhazia. An expert will support Action Against Hunger in providing training to farmers to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge in this branch of agriculture.

Action Against Hunger (AAH) – Spain, as part of the Action Against Hunger International network, is a non-governmental, private, apolitical, non-confessional and non-profit organisation that fights hunger and its root causes worldwide. It has been operating in the South Caucasus region since 1994 and its current programmes focus on the following areas: Food Security, Livelihoods, Water and Sanitation, Agriculture and Rural Development and Humanitarian Assistance.

Currently, Action Against Hunger is advertising a vacancy for a Consultant in the cultivation of the Chandler Walnut in the humid, subtropical climate of Abkhazia. This consultancy is financed under the project “Increasing sustainability and social responsibility in rural communities of Abkhazia”, supported by the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD)

Within the framework of this project, Action Against Hunger supports two Agricultural Training Centers (ATCs) in Gulripshi and Gali regions and these ATCs provide short courses and seminars on topics identified, and of great interest, to local farmers and key stakeholders in agriculture.

One such topic has been an increased demand by farmers to learn about Chandler Walnut cultivation. It has been grown in Abkhazia on few demonstration plots since 2021, and it has attracted great interest among local farmers and agronomists.

An expert in the cultivation and management of Chandler Walnut orchards will support Action Against Hunger in providing training to farmers to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge in this branch of agriculture.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The expert will be required to provide a 4-day technical support/training to farmers with a focus on the following issues:

• Methods and features of planting and growing Chandler Walnut trees
• Agricultural techniques for Chandler Walnut cultivation
• Orchard Management including walnut site requirements, rootstocks, planting layout, irrigation methods and strategies, soil and plant-based measurements, pruning and thinning
• Propagation & pollination methods
• Fertilizer requirements and use
• Methods for protection and controlling pests and diseases
• Share the practical knowledge on Chandler walnut topic with farmers attending the training at demonstration plot

The short-term training will be conducted over a four-day period (excluding travel) in September 2024

TASKS AND RESPONSABILITIES

The following tasks and responsibilities are expected to be accomplished during the contract period:

• The first day of the consultancy will take place in the fruit growing department of the Research Institute of Agriculture of Abkhazia, where a young Chandler Walnut orchard has been established for research purposes. The expert is required to conduct a practical lesson for the members of the institute and farmers, during which the expert should explain the methods of establishing an orchard and the care and treatment of Chandler Walnut trees.
• The second day of the consultancy will take place in a demonstration orchard of a farmer who has a plantation of 1,000 Chandler Walnut saplings. The expert is required to conduct a practical lesson for farmers on the topic of protecting saplings, caring for a young orchard, which will include agricultural technology, pruning, and fertilization. The expert should also provide a comparative analysis of the two orchards of the Research Institute of Agriculture and the farmer, finding differences in development and providing recommendations.
• The third and fourth day of the consultancy will be held in the classroom at the Agricultural Training Center. The expert is required to deliver a PPT presentation with a focus on issues as described in section 2. General Objective of this document. The expert is also required to provide farmers with extensive information on planting a Chandler Walnut orchard and carry out average calculations for maintaining 1 hectare of a Chandler Walnut orchard so that farmers can have a complete understanding of the possible costs.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

• Increased general knowledge of farmers of Chandler Walnut cultivation
• Farmers are better able to manage and maintain a walnut orchard
• Farmers are able to monitor and protect a walnut orchard from pests and diseases
• Report delivered to AAH on main findings, together with recommendations

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Academic qualification and background in agronomy
• Theoretical and practical knowledge in growing Chandler walnut
• Experience in growing Chandler nut in the conditions of humid subtropical climate
• Experience of conducting trainings
• Proven analytical and report writing skills
• Presentation and communication skills
• English language fluency
• Knowledge of Russian an asset

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Required start date: September 2024 (to be discussed)

Duration of work: 4 days in Abkhazia (plus travel time).

Location of work: Sukhumi and other districts of Abkhazia.

Work Plan: The work plan will be made together with Action Against Hunger.

1. Fees: The total amount for expertise fees to be negotiated based on the proposition and experience of the service provider.

Per diem: The amount of requested per diem should be included separately to consultancy fee.

1. Payment: 100% of the fees to be paid on completion and approval of the timesheet and report with recommendations.

Travel: Travel to the relevant locations in Abkhazia will be organized by Action Against Hunger.

Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse accommodation in Tbilisi and Abkhazia will be arranged and covered by Action Against Hunger.

Report: The final document will be submitted in an electronic version in English language.

Rights: The ownership of the report document will belong to Action Against Hunger and the EU. The document, or any publication related to it, will not be shared by the consultant to anybody prior to the delivery of the final document to the donor by Action Against Hunger.

Visa: Action Against Hunger will support the consultant in the visa application and payment for the visa for Abkhazia.

Insurance: The expert shall manage his/her own insurance and provide the details of coverage to Action Against Hunger before departure.

Translation: Action Against Hunger will provide spoken translation from Russian-English and English-Russian as required by the expert.

Other: Any materials required to carry out the assigned expertise (laptop, mobile phone etc.), must be provided by the expert.