VOLUNTEER EXPERT SCOPE OF WORK

Artificial Insemination Training and Technical Assistance to Selected Large and Mid-size Farms in Sri Lanka

 

Location of Assignment: Sri Lanka, with likely travel to provinces of the country

Proposed Level of Effort: 2 Months (approx.)

Anticipated Start Date:    March 1, 2020 

Anticipated End Date:      April 30, 2020

Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to provide hands-on technical training to on-farm Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians, monitor performance and improve on-farm AI success rate.

Approach

The volunteer expert will meet with senior management of each farm participating in the program to review and discuss current AI procedures and results as well as other pregnancy related issues on-farm. In addition, he/she will conduct an assessment of the farm, focusing on AI success rates and recommend measures to increase it. Based on the findings, the Volunteer Expert will conduct a structured training program comprising of theory and practicals for no more than two days. Following the training, the Volunteer Expert will spend two to three weeks on the farm as appropriate to supervise and guide the trained AI Technicians in application of best practices in performing AI. It is anticipated that the Volunteer Expert will go through this process on two program-supported farms.

Background 

International Executive Service Corps (IESC) is implementing a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress funded project in Sri Lanka. The four and a half-year Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) Project supports farmers and enterprises to meet the increased demand for dairy and aims to catalyze sustainable growth in Sri Lanka’s dairy sector. The project will increase productivity and expand the trade of milk and milk products in Sri Lanka. In partnership with the private and public sector, the project will increase milk production of participating farmers and farms to 83,400 metric tons by 2022—an average annual growth of 18 percent, for a life of project growth of 127 percent. The project will ensure 80 percent of beneficiary farmers are earning a price premium due to milk quality.

In meeting MOD’s target of increasing milk production to almost 84,000 MT during a short period of just four years, it is imperative that the project considers a portfolio of beneficiaries ranging from 5,400 small farmers to a few large farms. Therefore, MOD is proposing to provide technical assistance and training that targets interested mid- to large-scale investors to ensure a mix in MOD client portfolio. Once operational, MOD will also use these farms as demonstration units to train smaller farmers in those districts as appropriate.

Problem Statement

Numerous large and mid-scale farms (varying from 50 to 2,000 animals) have been established in Sri Lanka recently. These farms are comprised of only imported animals (Jersey Friesian crosses) brought from Australia and New Zealand, as well as Jersey Crosses with Sahiwal. A majority of these farms are not getting the anticipated yields from the herd; moreover, these farms are also experiencing issues with animal pregnancies and the cost of feed. There have been occasions in which AI services had to be conducted four to five times to be successful. All these issues contribute to very high cost of milk production, and farm managers/owners are seeking ways in which to address these challenges and reduce the cost of production.

Tasks

The Volunteer Expert will complete the following tasks as prioritized by each of the two farms that will be supported during this assignment. Please note the volunteer will spend approximately three weeks to a month on each farm:

• Conduct farm assessments on pregnancy related issues, AI success rate and reasons for low success if any and make recommendations to overcome any deficiencies;
• Based on findings, develop a two-day training program comprised of theory and practicals;
• Conduct an on-farm AI training program for no more than two-days;
• Work with trained AI technicians to guide and assist them with best practices; and,
• Develop a recording and reporting method to track AI success rates.

 

Illustrative Assignment Schedule 

Following is an illustrative schedule which may change based on specific farm requirements.

 

Date/Time Period	Activity
Week One - Day 1	Brief with Project Staff
Week One - Day 2	Travel to Farm(s)
Week One - Day 3	Meeting with farm management and conducting farm assessment
Week One - Day 4	Presenting findings to farm management and finalize training program to introduce best practices in AI
Week One - Day 5	Conduct AI Training
Week One - Day 6	Conduct AI Training
Week Two	Commence on farm work – farm 1
Week Three	Continue on farm work – farm 1
Week Three – Day 5	Present progress report with farm management
Week Four - Day 1	Mid Assignment brief with Project staff
Week Four - Day 2	Travel to farm 2
Week Four - Day 3	Meeting with farm management and conducting farm assessment - farm 2
Week Four - Day 4	Presenting findings to farm management and finalize training program to introduce best practices in AI
Week Four - Day 5	Conduct AI Training – farm 2
Week Four - Day 6	Conduct AI Training – farm 2
Week Five	Commence on farm work – farm 2
Week Six	Continue on farm work – farm 2
Week Six – Day 5	Present progress report with farm management of farm 2
Week Seven	Debriefing with MOD staff
Week Seven	Depart Sri Lanka

 

Deliverables     

The Volunteer Expert will submit the following deliverables:

• Assessment report for each farm that focuses on AI and recommends a tracking and reporting methods to record improvements.
• A progress report of each AI Technician trained.
• Two-day training program comprised of theory behinds conducting successful AIs and hands-on training.
• A report on on-farm observations of trained AI Technicians application of best practices and improvements made.

 

Reporting Relationship

The Volunteer Expert will report to the Project Director and work closely with Deputy Project Director, Productivity Specialist, and other MOD Project team members as appropriate.

 

Administration and Logistics

The MOD Project Office will provide hotel accommodation for the volunteer(s) when in Colombo. All accommodation including meals will be provided by the respective partner when on the farm as well as during work related travel in and around the farm. The volunteer will spend an average of about three weeks to a maximum of a month on each farm.

Work will commence on/about March 1, 2020 and be completed by April 30, 2020. These dates are flexible and timing of the assignment can be discussed further with the selected candidate.

Expert Volunteer Qualifications

The ideal AI Volunteer Expert will have the following skills and qualifications:

• 10+ years of hands-on dairy farm management experience including conducting AI on dairy cattle;
• Undergraduate university degree in an animal science;

• Training skills, including participatory training in group settings specifically on AI;
• Exceptional understanding of reproductive problems in dairy cattle, including AI and methods of overcoming reproductive problems in dairy cattle;
• Self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, mature, professional team player, who is a strong people person and communicator, with good inter-personal skills;
• Ability to address issues, challenges, questions, and concerns in a professional, respectful, logical, and timely manner; and,

• Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural contexts; prior experience working overseas—especially in South Asia—is helpful.