Baseline Survey Consultant at Rossland Consulting Limited

Project Summary

• Kiara Rice Mills Limited was established in 2019 with the capacity to process 120,000MT of paddy rice per year and produce 72,000MT of stone-free parboiled rice per year, making it Nigeria's fourth-largest stand-alone operational mill. Because of the milling plant installed capacity, the need to avoid downtime in the processing capacity and the inaccessibility to paddy rice in the Nigerian market – demand outweighs supply, informed the design of the Kiara Rice Mills Out-grower project (KRM OP).
• The project aims to, “ensure the year-round availability of paddy rice for the Kiara Rice Milling Plant and solidify Kiara rice brand in the Nigerian market. This is to enhance/increase participating farmers production capacity/income while also contributing to Nigeria's food import substitution target and providing Nigerians with high-quality locally milled rice.
• This will result in more job prospects and foreign exchange savings.
• This project is being supported by West African Trade and Investment Hub.
• The support from Trade Hub is to enhance extension support for 5000 farmers in Kebbi and Niger States of Nigeria so that the rice farmers can have improved yield and income and as well supply the needed paddy to Kiara Rice Mill Limited.

Job Summary

• The successful individual or company is to assist in conducting baseline survey from 5000 farmers participating in the KRM OP as at April 2022.
• The survey is to be conducted among smallholder farmers, using a household questionnaire, to measure the current state of play in terms of agricultural productivity and the profitability of smallholder farmers, as well as assess the status of gender relations and youth in the Nigerian agricultural sector, with a focus on rice value chain across the two states of Kebbi and Niger in Nigeria.

Major Tasks and Responsibilities

• Design a methodology (quantitative and qualitative) to be used for the conduct of the survey.
• Design instruments for the baseline study.
• Conduct a pilot test to Pre-test the research instruments?
• Assess the following parameters amongst others:
• Farmers need assessment to identify key gaps
• Household Poverty Probability Index.
• Household Income and Expenditure.
• Household food security using Household Hunger Score, Household Dietary diversity Score and Food Consumption Score.
• Yield of rice from farmers plots.
• Value of annual sales and profitability of rice farmers.
• Adoption of improved agricultural practices by rice farmers.
• Gender and youth inclusion in rice production.
• Hectares under improved technology for rice production.
• Constraints, limitations and challenges faced by small holder rice farmers participating in the KRM OP in Kebbi and Niger States.
• Improvement solution for the needs/gaps identified.

Key Deliverables
The key deliverables expected from this exercise are as follows:

• Design a methodology (quantitative and qualitative) to be used for the conduct of the survey.
• Design instruments for the baseline study.
• Conduct a pilot test to Pre-test the research instruments and submit pre-test results
• Review the results of the pilot survey so as to improve the instruments. Submit the revised instruments
• Conduct the baseline survey
• Submission of Final Report
• This survey must be conducted and a report must be submitted within twenty (20) days after the contract has been signed.

Qualifications and Experiences

• Minimum of Bachelor's level Degree in Agriculture, Statistics or a related Social Science field
• Minimum 5 years applied experience in research and Baseline Design, Monitoring & Evaluation experience in conflict or development programs
• Proven quantitative and qualitative research skills (candidates should provide a copy of baseline/evaluation reports produced);
• Strong background in participatory design, monitoring and evaluation methodologies
• Prospective Consultants can either be individuals or corporate organizations and must be identifiable within the laws of Nigeria.