Consultant - BASICS-II Market Study at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Overview

• CRS agriculture program in Nigeria started in 2009 with the Emergency Rice Initiative implemented in collaboration with AfricaRice, the IFDC, the National Cereal Research Institute Badeggi and the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority. Between 2012 and 2016 CRS implemented the SCSS project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in Benue and Oyo States in collaboration with National Root Crop Research Institute, National Agricultural Seeds Council, State Agricultural Development Programs and local NGOs.
• CRS also, as sub-recipient to International Potato Centre (CIP), implemented the Village Seed Entrepreneur (VSE) component of Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System (BASICS) Project in Benue state from April 2016 to May 2020. Currently, CRS is implementing the Development of Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (DCSE) component of Building Economically Sustainable Seed Systems for Cassava (BASICS-II) for the next five years being led by IITA.
• BASICS-II project will be implemented in Nigeria and Tanzania. BASICS-II project covers the entire cassava seed value chain, ranging from breeder to certified/farmer seed. The project's vision is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of the cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain operating across breeder, foundation, and commercial seed levels. This value chain will enable more efficient dissemination and adoption of new varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity, and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation in Nigeria and Tanzania.
• The DCSE component of the BASICS-II project which is being implemented by CRS will include the aggregation of CSEs and cover production and marketing of certified planting materials of improved cassava varieties to farmers within and outside of Kogi and Benue states. In implementing the componet, CRS will identify, train and work with the Cassava Seed Entreprenures (CSEs) to plan and organize their seed production and marketing activities.
• The strategic objective of the DCSE component for Nigeria is to more than double the number of decentralized, commercially viable seed enterprises in Nigeria, while they increase in average size and aggregate into associations to facilitate marketing, quality control, and other services.

To ensure targeted and effective marketing of the CSEs and their products, the BASICS-II project is condcuting a study of the cassava seeds and roots markets in Kogi state. The specific objectives of the study are:

• To understand the dynamics of the cassava seed and roots markets in Kogi state and establish whether or not farmers see the value of the seeds of improved varieties, why or why not, as well as their level of access to commercially produced seed.
• To identify the determinants and drivers of market demand for cassava stems and roots in Kogi state, establish reasons for purchasing or not purchasing, reactions and feedback on the purchased seeds, and levels of interest in repeat purchasing.
• To recommend viable market and marketing options for the sale of stems and roots by CSEs in the state.

Consultancy Objectives
The main objectives of this assignment are:

• To conduct a state-wide survey of the cassava market in Kogi State
• To profile the cassava stem buyers and non-buyers across the State
• To profile the cassava root buyers and non-buyers across the State
• To identify the preferred varietal and product characteristics of cassava across the state.
• To identify the main drivers of demand for cassava planting materials/seeds across the State
• To identify the main drivers of demand for roots of various identified varieties of cassava across the state
• To carry out an overview and identify the preferred cassava varieties and their key characteristics for various cassava markets and processors in Kogi State.
• To provide strategic information to guide the development of market communication for promotion of varieties produced by the CSEs in Kogi State.

Key Activities:
To address the above objectives, the consultant needs to do the following:

• Collection of existing materials and studies with reference to existing cassava value chain studies available
• Engage and interview actors in various institutions in the value chains for cassava
• Engage and interview farmers, processors, cassava roots products traders and consumers, and cassava seed entrepreneurs in Kogi State.

Write up of a report identifying:

• Major cassava varieties grown in Kogi State disaggregated by the three main ethnic/geo-political groups and by gender
• Major drivers of demand and repeat purchases of cassava seeds among farmers
• Preferred cassava varieties for various cassava products in Kogi State and their characteristics.

Main Deliverables and Expected Outcomes of Consulting Assignment
After this consulting assignment, it is expected the following will happen:

• The consultant will present a comprehensive Cassava market analysis report capturing the findings and giving concrete recommendations for the development of effective marketing communications tools for the DCSE component of the BASICS-II project.
• Make a presentation of a revised draft report to an audience including key stakeholders in the cassava seed system in Kogi State before submitting the final report.