Technical Assistance for the Agricultural Development Project

The aim of the Agriculture-for-Development (A4D) project is using the value chain approach to help rejuvenate the private cash crop sector, targeting crops of highest socio-economic comparative advantage (cocoa; coffee; cashew) by: Improving the quantity and quality of cash-crop production Reducing transaction costs Maximizing efficiency and effectiveness, and Increasing profitability at all levels So that the sector regains its important position in the economy, as was originally the case long before the civil war. The proposed project has the potential to reduce the poverty levels of approximately 140,000 farming families amounting to a total of about one million people overall. One of the single biggest bottlenecks in the value chain is the difficult and variable port facilities, which cost exporters considerable money in foregone earnings due to unnecessary demurrage and discounting of produce due to containers being unnecessarily held up on the quayside. These issues – and the price discounting that results – flow back to the producer. Thus, the spiral of low quality, as detailed in the Feasibility Study, stems to some extent from the problems that occur at the wharf. In this context the improvement of port facilities and of container handling is of great importance. Main responsibilities To work in conjunction with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ports Authority and port management company, if privatised. Specifically She/he will: Review the bottlenecks to swift and efficient export facilities, particularly with regard the present procedures and handling arrangements. Review the relationships between interested parties and detail their economic effect on exports from the port. Review warehousing facilities for tree crop produce Make recommendations for improvements in all aspects of the port facilities Detail the costs and other tools necessary for any proposed improvements, including the possible purchase of a container loader specifically for tree crop produce. Detail the legal, fiscal and private sector implications for any recommendations made.