7 NGF - Nowabenki Gonomukhi Foundation

Terms of References (ToR) of International Consultant

    Terms of References (ToR) 

Assignment on Increased Production of Crablets at the Hatchery and Improvement of Nursery and Grow-out Management

Background:

Currently mud crab (Scylla spp.) farming has emerged as an alternative livelihood option, a source of income and nutrition for the vulnerable coastal communities in Bangladesh to adapt to the adverse impact of climate change. There are about 300,000 people directly or indirectly connected with mud crab farming. With the expansion of the crab production area the demand for seed-stock has increased. The seed stock needed for mud crab farming is collected from the wild stock of the estuaries and mangroves of the Sundarbans putting the integrity of the Sundarbans’ eco-system and biodiversity under threat. The over exploitation of the wild population, would also lead to a situation where the existing crab industry can no longer be sustained, which in turn would the affect the livelihoods of a large number of people. To address the problem, Nowabenki Gonomukhi Foundation (NGF) established a crab hatchery in 2016 in Shyamnagar Upazila of Sathira District with the support of PKSF. However, given the survival rate below 3%, the crablet production at the hatchery is too low to meet up the demand. The constraints behind the low survival rate at hatchery are inadequate technical knowledge and skills in broodstock management, Zoea rearing, feeding, management of high mortality during the metamorphism of Zoea-V to Megalopa, water quality management etc.

To increase the technical knowledge and skills of the crab hatchery technicians Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity supported and NGF implemented intervention “Promotion of Sustainable Crab farming in South-West Region of Bangladesh” is looking for an expert with hands on experience in mud crab (both Scylla olivacea and Scylla Serrata) hatchery, nursery and grow-out operations.

Objectives of the consultancy:

The main objectives of the consultancy are to increase the survival rate and production of crablets at the hatchery and improve nursery and grow-out management aiming to increase crab production in the region.

The Specific objectives are-

  • To identify the problems in current crablet production practices at the hatchery and address those accordingly.
  • To improve water management and water quality maintenance at the hatchery
  • To improve broodstock management, maintenance of disease free berried crabs, and successful hatching.
  • To improve Zoeal rearing with with emphasis on Zoea-V to megalopa stage and reduce the mortality rate.
  • To reduce abnormal molting and cannibalism.
  • To improve biosecurity management.
  • To improve crablet transport techniques.
  • To improved nursery and grow-out management.

Scope of the work:

 

  • The consultant will review the hatchery operation manual of NGF and find out the constraints to determine factors responsible for low survivability of crablets.
  • Conduct visits to different crab hatcheries, crab fattening, and soft shell crab farms and discussions with relevant people to have a clear understanding of local resources, facilities, challenges and practices for crablet production and crab culture.
  • Develop training materials on crablet production at the hatchery based on local need.
  • Develop training materials on crab nursery and grow-out management based on the local need.
  • Conduct training and demonstrate crablet production techniques at the hatchery.
  • Conduct training on crab nursery and grow-out management.
  • Demonstrate techniques for two complete overlapping cycle of crablet production at the hatchery.

Methodology:

The Consultant will work intensively with the NGF Crab Hatchery Manager and Technicians staying at the Guesthouse of NGF or any suitable accommodation close to the hatchery. After assessment of the local context and preparation of required materials, S/he will conduct a 1-day training on “Crablet Production at the Hatchery, Improvement of Crab Nursery and Grow-out Management” in Shyamnagar for the Manager and Technicians of NGF Crab Hatchery. S/he will conduct the same training in Cox’s Bazar for the Managers and Technicians of the crab hatcheries of the Government Department of Fisheries and other crab hatcheries. The 1-day training will help to increase the knowledge of the hatchery managers, and technicians on crablet production at hatcheries and improved crab nursery and grow-out management. As the main task of the assignment, the Consultant will demonstrate each step of crablet production at NGF hatchery in two overlapping production cycles for a period of 33 days.

 

Deliverables:

Following events, reports, IEC materials and documents to be completed/delivered-

  • Completion of the training on “Crablet Production at Hatcheries, and Improvement of Crab Nursery and Grow-out Management in two locations.
  • Successful run of at least two overlapping crablet production cycles at NGF Hatchery.
  • Potential reduction of mortality during the metamorphism of Zoea-V to Megalopa.
  • Increased crablet production at about 5% survival rate.
  • Training materials on crablet production, crab nursery, and grow-out management.
  • Materials on improved management of crab brood stock and hatchery operation.
  • Final Report on the assignment detailing the tasks conducted with the highlight of the issues and measures taken/to be taken for remedy

Timeline:

The service agreement will be for 40-60 working days between March 2023 and August’23. Training materials on crablet production, and crab nursery, and grow-out management need to be submitted to NGF within 7 days after the commencement of the training. Materials on improved management of crab broodstock and hatchery operation need to be submitted within the 2nd week of the hatchery operation. The final report on the assignment needs to be submitted within 7 days of the completion of crablet production cycles.

Education and other qualifications:

The consultant requires Higher Secondary education/Diploma in Aquaculture/relevant field with at least 8 years of hands on experience in Crab hatchery operation and crab farming or Masters/Bachelor degree in Aquaculture/Fisheries with at least 5 years of hands on experience in crab hatchery operation and crab farming.

Financial Proposal:

The consultant is requested to propose an estimated cost outlining the details of the task. The consultant budget should cover consultancy fees, international and local travels, perdiem, Accommodation etc. The Financial Proposal shall specify a total delivery amount (in USD/BDT) including mentioning taxes & Vat. Tax and VAT shall be deducted from the contract amount according to the Government Rules and Regulations.

Mode of Payment:  

NGF will pay the cost of the consultant subject to the completion and acceptance of all deliverables. Payments will be made based on the following milestones-

  • 1st Payment: The 1st payment will be made upon submission and acceptance of the training materials on crablet production, and crab nursery, grow-out management and submission of details Implementation Plan (DIP). 
  • 2nd Payment: The 2nd payment will be made upon submission and acceptance of the materials on improved management of crab broodstock and hatchery operation.
  • Final Payment: The final payment will be made upon submission and acceptance of the final report on the assignment detailing the tasks conducted with the highlight of the issues and measures taken/to be taken for remedy.

 

 

ToR ( Value Chain Assessment (VCA) of Mud Crab )

                                                         Terms of References (ToR) 

Value Chain Assessment (VCA) of Mud Crab

 

 

Background:

Coastal Bangladesh has the most commercially important species of mud crabs Scylla spp., from the family Portunidae. The 734-km long coastline of Bangladesh, with the world’s largest mangrove forest, is a hotspot for diverse aquatic organisms, including mud crabs, providing suitable breeding, feeding and nursery grounds. Presently mud crab farming has emerged as an alternative livelihood, a source of income and nutrition and an innovative way of helping vulnerable littoral communities adapt to a changing climate. There are about 300,000 people directly or indirectly connected with mud crab farming activities. Over the last ten years, production from mud crab fisheries has increased gradually, mainly related to more coastal people becoming interested in crab farming. In addition, at present years crab farming transformed into a new mode of soft-shell crab farming as the global demand increasing day by day and earning of handsome foreign currency.

Since the mid 70s, the crab marketing system has developed in Bangladesh with a view to export mud crab to foreign markets. According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Export of mud crab from Bangladesh started in 1977 and the first consignment was worth $2,000 only. The export volume grew over the years and Bangladesh shipped crabs worth US$ 42.93 million In 2018-2019.  The value chain of mud crab is composed of a series of intermediaries like the crab catcher, farmer, foria, depot/aratdar, supplier, exporter and the consumer. The presence of too many actors makes the value chain a complex system to exploit crab farmer. A well-structured marketing system for mud crab is yet to develop despite the demand and export potential is significantly higher. Regarding the aforesaid circumstance Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity supported and NGF implemented intervention “Promotion of Sustainable Crab farming in South-West Region of Bangladesh” is looking for an experienced consultant to conduct value chain assessment of mud crab.

Objectives of the study:

The value chain of mud crab is composed of a series of intermediaries like the crab catcher, farmer, foria, depot/aratdar, supplier, exporter and the consumer. In southwest coastal belt of Bangladesh, 0.25-0.3 million people, mainly landless poor collectors, crop farmers, traders and suppliers are directly or indirectly dependent on the crab fishery (FRSS, 2017). The presence of too many actors makes the value chain a complex system to exploit crab farmer. A well-structured marketing system for mud crab is yet to develop despite the demand and export potential is significantly higher. So, it is essential to identify major actors of mud crab value chain, their roles and interrelationship, constrains inside the value chain in order to make mud crab a sustainable export commodity for increasing national export earnings.

Specific objective are-

  • To assess the existing mud crab value chain in Bangladesh
  • To provide recommendations for actions to support the value chain of mud crab, for example technical support to farmers or to mud crab buyers and exporters
  • To identify the demand to increase the mud crab production in Bangladesh

Scope of the work:

  • Assess existing practices, identify gaps and accordingly develop capacity building materials for crab farmers, and nursery operators on better management practices
  • Facilitate market linkages between farmers and market actors
  • Support farmers accesses  to better quality inputs including crablets, feed and aqua medicinal products through promotion and marketing
  • Facilitate pond demonstration on better management practices and share learnings

Study Area:

To get a clear picture of Mud Crab Value Chain an assessment (VCA) study will be conducted in present crab culture prospective areas namely Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat, Cox’sbazar and Vola district to know the existing scenario on market demand, problems and constraints of the sector, identify risks and challenges, sources of seed crab collection, cultural practices of all farming methods, profitability of all market actors, constraints and opportunities of export market. To conduct the crab value chain assessment 10 Focus Group Discussion (FGD), 15 Key Informant Interview (KII) and questionnaire survey will be executed from the crab culturing location of the mentioned five district.

Approach and Methodology:

Both quantitative and qualitative approach of assessment will be followed for this study. Personal Interviews of the value chain stakeholders, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key Informant Interviews (KII) methods consisting will be employed for collection of primary data. In addition, specific information will also be collected, distilled and compiled from an extensive source of secondary literatures, both published and unpublished, to help set the stage for this study and which will further substantiated by field observations.

 

Deliverables:

         Report and documents to be delivered-

  • Estimation of present demand for mud crab seed
  • Assessment report on existing scenario of  mud crab value chain in Bangladesh, Potential market actors and their roles and interrelationship in value chain
  • Report on cultural practices of all farming methods
  • Report on profitability of all market actors
  • Report on mud crab value chain mapping
  • Report on opportunities and challenges of mud crab value chain
  • Report on constraints and opportunities of export market

 

Timeline:

The study should be completed and a draft report must be submitted by the consultant within 25 days from the date of contract signing. The final report will have to be submitted within 10 days of presentation of the draft report after incorporating clarifications and additional information in response to the comments given by NGF and WorldFish officials.

 

Selection process:

The Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method will be applicable for the selection of the consulting firm.

 

Consultant Requirements:

Local consulting firm with 10 years of demonstrated experience in conducting baseline, mid-term and impact studies of different development projects. The team of consulting firm  to be  involved in the study that includes i) Value Chain Specialists, ii) Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialists, iii) Statisticians, iv) Data Analyst and other required personnel with adequate academic qualification and professional background. Value Chain Specialist, Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialist, Statistician and Data Analyst should have at least master degree in Fisheries/Aquaculture/Agro-Economics/Business Education/Management/Marketing/Statistics and other relevant subjects. The study team members should have at least 10 years of total working experience with at least 3 years in relevant field of study.

The team leader of the study team will have overall responsibility for the quality and timely submission of the final report to NGF.

 

 

 

Financial Proposal:

The consultant is requested to propose an estimated cost outlining the details of the task. The consultant budget should cover consultancy fees, local travels, perdiem, Accommodation etc. The Financial Proposal shall specify a total delivery amount (in USD/BDT) including mentioning taxes & Vat. Tax and VAT shall be deducted from the contract amount according to the Government Rules and Regulations.

 

Mode of Payment:

NGF will pay the cost of the consultant subject to the completion of all outputs and acceptance. Payments will be made based on the following-

Percentages and milestones:

  • 1st Payment (30% of total contract value): The 1st payment will be made upon submission and acceptance of the inception report by NGF.
  • 2nd Payment (30% of total contract value): The 2nd payment will be made upon submission and acceptance of the draft report by NGF.
  • Final Payment (40% of total contract value): The final payment will be made upon acceptance of the final report by NGF.