Study on Modern Agriculture in China

The Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) requested technical assistance (TA) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a study on modern agriculture demonstration area (MADA) planning and financial support mobilization. The TA will develop prototypes of MADA strategic development plans and conduct a study on financial support to the construction of MADAs, taking into account successful international practices and experiences in agricultural modernization, as well as achievements and ongoing interventions of ADB in the agriculture sector. The TA will also prepare a policy note to present important policy recommendations on strategic planning and financial support for agricultural modernization through the MADA approach. The TA provides timely support to the PRC’s transition toward more sustainable and balanced growth, and is in line with ADB’s sector priorities in the PRC: food security, rural livelihood improvement, and sound management of land, water, and forest. As team leader, the specialist will be responsible for the final outputs of the technical assistance (TA), as well as for the daily coordination and supervision of the TA team. Specifically, the specialist will undertake the following tasks: (i) Develop the detailed framework and methodology in consultation with the executing agency, key stakeholders, and other experts; (ii) Develop outlines of the TA inception, interim, and final reports and assign work to respective specialists in the team; (iii) Compile and finalize inception, interim, and final reports, and their revised versions; (iv) manage and ensure timely implementation of TA activities, including the overall coordination of the inputs from team members, organizing inception, interim, and final workshops, and supporting the executing agency in organizing an international conference on modern agriculture development and the construction of modern agriculture demonstration areas (MADAs); (v) conduct a comprehensive review of modern agriculture literature, including ADB’s TA projects on this topic, agricultural planning requirements and policies, national policies for MADAs, and existing local MADA development plans; (vi) Conduct field investigation in selected MADAs and collect essential data and information on agricultural development and financial support to agriculture; (vii) Carefully select MADAs for which the prototypes will be developed, and lead the preparation of five prototypes of MADA strategic development plans; (viii) conduct consultations with the MADAs, experts, and policymakers on the draft development plans, and revise the draft based on the comments received; (ix) review the report on financial support to the construction of MADAs and development of modern agriculture and provide feedback for revision; (x) lead the preparation of a policy note on strategic planning and financial support for agricultural modernization through the MADA approach, including proposals for development projects in the selected MADAs; (xi) moderate the TA workshops and the international conference; (xii) present the results and findings of the TA study in the workshops and conference; and (xiii) carry out other related work assigned by the ADB project officer.