Background
Potato farmers in Kenya grapple with various challenges across the value chain, including limited access to quality planting material such as seeds and fertilizers, resulting in decreased yields and inferior crop quality; insufficient storage and post-harvest handling facilities, which contribute to high levels of post-harvest losses exacerbated by factors such as inadequate transportation infrastructure and pest and disease infestations; fluctuating market prices and limited access to reliable market information systems, leaving farmers vulnerable to income instability. These challenges are further exacerbated for women and youth due to the persistent social gaps in the agricultural sector.
Digital tools can play a vital role in addressing these challenges. These tools can provide access to valuable agricultural information, weather forecasts, and best practices, helping farmers make informed decisions and improve crop management. Mobile apps and platforms can facilitate market access by connecting farmers directly with buyers, reducing price fluctuations and ensuring fair returns for their produce. Digital tools can also play a crucial role in addressing post-harvest losses by providing real-time monitoring and management of storage conditions, helping farmers optimize storage facilities to reduce spoilage and wastage. Additionally, digital platforms can provide farmers with information on proper post-harvest handling techniques, including sorting, grading, and packaging, ensuring that potatoes are prepared for market with minimal losses.
This qualitative data collection is intended to provide baseline data and complement quantitative data collection for the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) Initiative "Digital Innovation.”
Main Research Questions and Methods
Through qualitative interviews and focus group discussions selected communities where a quantitative household survey will be implemented at the same time, the qualitative data will assess:
Interviews and focus groups will be conducted with FSCs and farmers. The Interviews will focus on the FSCs to understand how the BDEC program has improved their digital literacy and access to agricultural information thus enhancing their capacity to support farmers. Focus groups will be conducted with farmers who have had interactions with FSCs to understand the impact of working with FSCs to improve post-harvest management, employment and household income.
Overall Tasks
The selected firm will be responsible for coordinating and conducting face-to-face qualitative data collection among farming households and communities in selected counties in Kenya (Nyandarua and Nakuru). The qualitative survey will consist of in-person interviews and focus groups with men and women farmers (lasting 90–120 minutes) and trained Farmer Service Centers (FSCs).
The activities of the data collection implementer are detailed as follows:
Period of performance: September 2024 to January 2025.
Required Qualifications
Application Instructions
Please upload a proposal outlining the approach, human resources, timing, and costs (including details of staff time, training of trainers, field data collection, overhead, etc.), along with CV/resume (including details of previous related experience in relations to the required qualifications) for individual(s) leading the work. We expect that the applicant will be a local survey firm able to handle a contract with IFPRI and source the required human resources to fulfill the scope of the work themselves.
*This requisition is only open to firms. Interested firms must submit/upload a cost-proposal with the application. *
**We are unable to respond to every applicant individually; only selected applicants will be contacted. **