Consultant - Post-harvest Handling,
Processing and Cold Chain
Specialist

CNFA Description: CNFA is an enterprise development organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, new technologies and marketing to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains, expand exports, and develop skills in the rural workforce. By generating higher incomes for farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, and distributors, CNFA helps improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.

PATTA Background: Outdated and ineffective agricultural technologies are among the leading causes for Pakistan’s agricultural productivity falling short of its potential. Scaling up the production, distribution, and adoption of agricultural technologies in Pakistan is made challenging by lack of information, difficulty in accessing credit, a wide dispersion of smallholders, and diverse of challenges facing marginalized subsets of smallholder farmers – such as women. 

PATTA Description: PATTA will bring to scale private sector solutions to improve agricultural productivity in Pakistan through a four-year activity. PATTA will partner with agricultural technology companies to commercialize products and services with the potential to increase the productivity and competitiveness of smallholder farmers while mobilizing private sector investment in agricultural technology. PATTA’s partnership will provide smallholder farmers with boarder access to affordable technologies to increase productivity, build resilience to climate change and reduce postharvest losses. In so doing, PATTA expects to achieve the following results:

• Increase smallholder farmer access to affordable, appropriate and effective agricultural technologies;
• Enable agricultural technology-related businesses to expand and adapt their products and services to meet smallholders needs;
• Scale up the adoption and use of agricultural technologies.

STTA Background: Technical assistance to be delivered through the consultant will include the preparation, provision and oversight of training workshops for stakeholders in the horticulture sector on value-added, innovative packing technologies and new packing materials such as shrink-wrap postharvest technology.

The consultant will provide onsite technical guidance and training in the preparation and preservation of fresh produce using shrink wrap under managed atmosphere conditions. The consultant will recommend the prerequisites and protocols for utilization of shrink wrap and will demonstrate state-of-the-art technologies being used globally. Capacity building of relevant technology companies, processor and exporters will also be a focus of the consultancy, which include, but will not be limited to: technical support and knowledge-sharing on harvest, post-harvest handling, field heat removal, ethylene production, ethylene sensitivity, packing, international labeling, and cold chain requirements of selected horticultural produce. The consultant shall develop SOPs which encompass the complete lifecycle of the product, including harvest, post-harvest handling and extending the shelf-life of products in reefer containers or via cold chain.

Assignment Scope:

Because products exported from Pakistan do not enter the cold chain system or get transported to distant markets in an optimum storage environment, they reach their destination in a poor state of quality - possessing a shelf life of a few hours to a few days. In light, exporters are forced to sell produce at suboptimal prices. PATTA anticipates that the use of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technologies, Modified Atmosphere Packing (MAP), use of clump shells for berries, and shrink wrap for horticultural products will significantly enhance the quality and shelf-life of fruits and vegetables (peppers, bringles, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potato, potato, corn/cobs etc.), resulting in direct benefit to exporters and overall increased awareness of the value added packing materials in the horticultural sector.

The consultant will obtain the necessary supplies to conduct demonstrations and training workshops focused on field heat removal process, CA, MAP packaging materials, awareness for equipment and tools for product and process improvement in post-harvest management of horticultural crops to extend the shelf life through the onsite vocational trainings sessions. The consultant will introduce and demonstrate the use of portable fruit quality testing supplies for monitoring product parameters. Lastly, the consultant will provide detailed recommendations for maintaining and improving the use of shrink wrap, keeping in mind the present condition of horticultural value chains in Pakistan.

STTA Objective and Scope: As mentioned, PATTA is seeking an experienced consultant to deliver trainings and develop a comprehensive guide on shrink wrap technology. The assignment focusses on the provision of training and demonstrations to build the capacity of stakeholders - namely business service providers, technology companies and government officials. The successful introduction of shrink wrap technology will provide a new pathway to quality preservation of fresh produce. Technical assistance will be required in the following areas:

• Appropriate handling of select fruits and vegetables during harvest, including field handling and transport to the pack house.
• Introduction to maturity indices and methods of field heat removal.
• Use of humidifiers for fresh leafy vegetables and berry fruits.
• Use of harvesting tools and equipment & field collection baskets for transport to processing areas inclusive of waste management during grading sorting and processing.
• Requirements/global standards for cleaning, sorting, grading, and processing identified products.
• Use of various packaging materials like CA, MAP, Cryovac sheets, shrink wrap sheets, and vacuum sealed packing materials and processes.
• Shrink wrap packaging requirements for identified products, including labelling.
• Requirements of temperature, Relative Humidity (RH) and air circulation for extended cold storage.
• Loading and preparation of reefer container.
• Benefits of using shrink wrap technology to extend the shelf life, manage disease and insect issues, conserve energy, and facilitate ease of use.
• Specifications for use of various plastic films on identified products.
• Specifications of machinery/equipment/tools required for the use of shrink wrap – including model, make and country of origin for commercial scale operations, along with estimated prices.
• Two to three demonstrations at the sites of fruit and vegetable processing hubs for citrus and winter vegetables and or for papaya, sweet potato, potato, zucchini, peppers, etc., depending upon season and availability of product.

Consultant tasks will include, but will not be limited to:

• Coordination with PATTA’s AgTech team to develop a strategic work plan, including training curriculum, field activities and timelines.
• Hands-on training for use of plastic films during post- harvest management inclusive use of shrink wrap technology for adoption on a commercial scale, with a focus on its importance in extending post-harvest shelf life.
• Development of interim and final reports with recommendations on the harvest and post- harvest management for fruits and vegetables.
• Introduction and awareness of new equipment, tools machinery and process in horticulture sector for better product processing and marketing.
• Introduction and awareness for new packaging materials inclusive to Identify the required grade of plastic film in the local market or an alternative film grade for future commercial use.
• Development of guidelines for the use of machines and shrink wrap film, including handling and upkeep of machinery.
• Identification of horticultural products suitable for the use of shrink wrap on a commercial scale.
• Identification of high-end retail markets for select horticultural products.
• Development of SOPs which encompass the complete lifecycle of identified horticultural products, from harvest to cold storage/shelf.
• Development and demonstration of the use of data sheets to enhance quality and extend shelf life.
• Economic use of film versus the quality and extension in shelf life of selected fruit and vegetables.
• Any other tasks assigned by the COP/Director Agricultural Technology related to the evaluation of horticultural products for shrink wrap technology.

STTA Deliverables:

• Develop a detailed work plan to execute the assignment within 2 days of assignment commencement.
• Conduct capacity building sessions with identified stakeholders for the use of new packaging technologies.
• Submit a written report identifying appropriate temperature requirements for storage, ethylene sensitivity levels and suitable export markets with sizeable profit margins for identified horticultural products.
• Develop SOPs for shelf life extension via postharvest handling methods, use of plastic film and other recommended packaging, and storage and loading requirements.
• Submit a weekly report on the assignment to the COP or his designee.
• Interim presentation to AgTech, MEL, COMM, & BDSM of PATTA.
• Submit a final report on the assignment, including a PowerPoint presentation.
• Identify potential global markets for Pakistani shrink wrap fruits and vegetables.
• Any other deliverables assigned by PATTA technical team.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Advanced degree in the field of Horticulture, Post-harvest Technology, Agricultural Marketing, Business Management, Food Engineering, or a related field.
• 10 years’ experience working with commercial agriculture traders or exporters and other players in the horticulture marketing and processing sector.
• Prior experience consulting with USAID or donor-funded projects in Pakistan.
• Sound knowledge of Good Agriculture Practices, SPS, Post-harvest handling of fresh produce, pre-cooling methods, cold storage technologies, and international marketing.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Documented excellent writing skills in English.
• Oral fluency in English.