Project Background:
The Regional Agricultural Development Program – East (RADP-East) is a five-year USAID-funded project (July 2016 – October 2021) with the primary goal of expanding sustainable agriculture-led economic growth in eight target provinces of Eastern Afghanistan. RADP-East follows a facilitative and value-chain approach, working with private sector actors (e.g., farmers, agriculture input providers, processors, traders, and buyers) to identify constraints to their businesses’ performance, implement demand-driven and market-based solutions to those constraints, increase their sales, improve value chain performance, and consequently impact large numbers of smallholder farmers and families in rural areas. In the poultry value chain, RADP-East is following a strategy of promoting import substitution by growing the volume of Afghan poultry products in high-quality market segments that can outcompete cheaper imports by offering consumers superior products to meet increasing local demand.
In Afghanistan, feed mills often have problems in the development of new poultry feed formulations. They lack the capacity to test the main raw materials’ quality and identify protein and other nutrients level in the raw materials and final feed products. There is also a lack of understanding of the concept of feed conversion ratios. These constraints have a negative impact on the productivity of poultry farms. In addition, locally produced feed is not able to compete with imported feed.
Purpose:
The main purpose of this activity is to provide expert knowledge and poultry feed formulation training to RADP-East supported feed production companies, which will help address their constraints and achieve the overarching objective of improving the quality of local feed. The training will provide feed production companies clear guidelines on best standard feed formulations for poultry chickens/birds at their different stages of growth, educate them on the importance of each ingredient and its effect. Feed millers will also learn the methodology of calculating feed conversion ratios. The training will instruct participants on preliminary steps for establishing feed formulation laboratories, with recommendations on the necessary equipment, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and controls. The STTA will also conduct assessments of the nutritional value of available feed formulations used for layers, broiler and breeder through a structured questionnaire.
TASKS & DELIVERABLES:
The Poultry Feed Formulation Expert will work with the RADP-East Value Chain Manager, the Poultry Value Chain team and select poultry production companies.
Tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:
§ Conduct assessments on each of the identified feed mills (approximately five to seven mills) by compiling a detailed questionnaire, to be submitted for completion within a reasonable period. The questionnaire will help to collect information needed to evaluate current formulas, set new feed specifications and formulate new sets of poultry feeds for each of the feed mills. It will also help to identify and better understand the challenges faced by them in terms of feed formulation, feed manufacturing, feed mill operation and feed mill management.
§ Analyze the information and questionnaires once received.
§ Analyze current management and operational practices of the feed production companies and provide integrated recommendations to upgrade company management and operational skills and opportunities to add value to their products.
§ Build a ‘plant’, using appropriate feed formulation software for each of the feed mills, containing a list of raw materials, raw material specifications, raw material prices, list of feeds and feed specifications.
§ Evaluate existing formulations for each of the feed mills by capturing the existing poultry formulas for broilers, replacement pullets, layers and breeders in the feed formulation software.
§ Build a raw material matrix for each of the feed millers by using the existing raw material specifications, certificates of analysis and analytical results. Request additional NIRS- or wet chemistry analysis if necessary.
§ Develop an optimal feed formulation for different stages of layers, breeders and broiler birds to maximize growth/feed conversions using locally sourced inputs based on the assessment of available feed ingredients. Feed formulation software to be utilized to do formulations on the least-cost principle.
§ Develop training materials, based on the identified challenges of the poultry feed mills and for improving the quality of poultry feed with focus on the use of locally available raw materials.
§ Deliver training to the technical staff of the selected feed production companies on feeding strategies and techniques for each feed ratio formulated.
§ Train feed production companies on storage and handling of raw materials and finished feed to ensure it is fresh and free from contamination and safe from rodents.
Provide a detailed report on achievements and future recommendations.
Qualifications
§ University degree (B.Sc. / M.Sc.) in animal science/poultry management, feed production, or other relevant field.
§ A minimum of 8-10 years of hands-on experience in poultry feed formulation and poultry feed mill management.
§ Previous work experience in similar assignment will be a plus point.
§ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Conditions of Work Requirements
Work and living facilities are in high security zones with frequent security drills and protocols and limited access to medical facilities. General work environment and living quarters requires ability to walk numerous flights of stairs on a daily basis. Security protocols require the individual in this position to be able to quickly climb multiple flights of stairs while wearing 30 lbs. of personal protective equipment, walk swiftly or run across uneven terrain without assistance, and enter and exit project vehicles without assistance.
DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.
