Expert Consultant in the cultivation of Wine Grape varieties in a subtropical climate. At Acción contra el Hambre España

Action Against Hunger is advertising a vacancy for a consultant in the cultivation of wine grape varieties in humid, subtropical climate conditions of Abkhazia. The expert in viticulture will support Action Against Hunger in providing training to farmers to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge in wine grape cultivation and to help mitigate against these diseases

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 wine grape varieties in humid, subtropical climate conditions 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 the increased demand by farmers to learn more about wine grape cultivation. Native varieties show high resistance to various locally occurring diseases and demonstrate good yields. The most common of the indigenous varieties are Kachich, Ausrkhua, Agbyzh and Akhardanyzh. However, due to the humid, subtropical climate of Abkhazia, as well as consequences of global climate change, the occurrence of the most common and harmful diseases such as anthracnose, mildew and grape oidium has increased in recent years and negatively affected the yields. These malignant diseases are common in all regions of Abkhazia.

The expert in viticulture will support Action Against Hunger in providing training to farmers to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge in wine grape cultivation and to help mitigate against these diseases.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

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

• Selection of the most resistant viticultural plant material for the humid, subtropical climate
• Phytosanitary prophylaxis measures prior to the introduction of the plant material
• Methods of treatment and care of the vineyard in a humid subtropical climate
• Vineyard management – including the correct layout and division of territory, cultivation, thinning, pruning, tying, suckering, canopy management, planting and replanting, irrigating and harvesting
• Vineyard maintenance – including removing bird netting, analyzing the soil with samples, trellising and planting a cover crop to reduce soil nutrient loss and control erosion
• Share practical knowledge on the topic of viticulture with farmers attending the training at demonstration plots

During the theoretical training the expert must deliver electronic presentation to famers on the topic of viticulture and share it with AAH after completion of the training

The short-term training will be conducted over a four-day period (excluding travel) in September 2024. It will include 2 days of theoretical training and 2 days of practical training with field visits to plots owned by business-oriented farmers, as well as providing advice on the study, propagation, and selection of new, suitable wine grape varieties.

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 department of Viticulture and Winemaking of the Research Institute of Agriculture of Abkhazia. The expert is required to monitor the garden together with farmers and talk about methods for monitoring the garden, methods for planting a new grape garden, and give recommendations on the selection of new grape varieties that are most resistant to fungal diseases.
• The second day of the consultancy will take place in a young grape vineyard established in 2024 in the village of Duripsh, Gudauta district. The expert is required to conduct practical training for farmers, assess the vineyard, and give recommendations.
• The third and fourth days of consultancy will take place 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.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

• Farmers acquire new knowledge in the grapevine agricultural technology
• Farmers have information on new viticulture plant material for the humid subtropical climate of Abkhazia and its propagation
• Farmers have improved ability to manage and maintain a vineyard
• Farmers able to assess and prevent the occurrence of most common pests and diseases
• Farmers able to select and correctly apply fertilizers, including organic fertilizers
• Report delivered to AAH on main findings, together with recommendations

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Academic qualification and background in viticulture
• Theoretical and practical knowledge in vine grape cultivation, including experience in wine grape cultivation in a humid subtropical climate
• Experience of conducting trainings
• Presentation and communication skills
• Proven analytical and report writing skills
• English language fluency
• Knowledge of Russian is 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.