Senior Consultant- Agriculture and Food Systems

MicroSave; Patna; On-site; INR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A consulting firm in Patna seeks an Input Linkage Expert to develop and scale agri-input businesses by integrating seed, fertilizer, and crop protection services. The ideal candidate will have 10-15 years of experience in agri-input distribution, excellent communication skills, and a Master's degree in agriculture. Responsibilities include supporting business planning for FPCs, establishing private sector partnerships, and ensuring regulatory compliance. This role involves significant leadership and stakeholder engagement to enhance farmer access and profitability.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience in agri-input distribution or retail.
• Experience in structured trading and price discovery mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of agri-input value chains.
• Excellent written and presentation skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement FPC-led input business models.
• Support partners in obtaining regulatory licenses.
• Establish partnerships with agri-tech firms.
• Monitor performance of FPC-led input businesses.

Skills

Agri-input distribution

Fertilizer management

Seed technology

Market risk management

Buyer engagement

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in agriculture

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

MicroSave Consulting (MSC) is a boutique consulting firm that has, for 25 years, pushed the world towards meaningful financial, social, and economic inclusion. With over 300 staff of different nationalities and varied expertise, we are proud to be working in over 68 developing countries. We partner with participants in financial services, enterprise, agriculture and health ecosystems to achieve sustainable performance improvements and unlock enduring value. Our clients include governments, donors, private sector corporations, and local businesses. We can help you seize the digital opportunity, address the mass market, and future-proof your operations.

Job Description

This role offers a rare opportunity to build and scale commercially viable, FPC-led agri-input businesses at scale working at the intersection of farmers, markets, and leading private sector players. As the Input Linkage Expert, you will shape end-to-end input ecosystems covering seeds, fertilizers, crop protection, agri-equipment, and soil health services, while forging strategic partnerships with companies to strengthen last-mile delivery through JEEViKA’s AE platform. The position combines regulatory leadership, private-sector deal-making, and field-level execution, giving you direct ownership of sustainable market systems that improve farmer access, strengthen FPC profitability, and create models that can be scaled across Bihar and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Input Business Design & Scaling: Design and support implementation of FPC-led input business models, including agri-retail outlets, seed distribution, fertilizer and crop protection inputs, agri-equipment services, and soil testing services.
• Support FPCs in business planning, pricing strategies, inventory management, and working capital planning for input operations.
• Ensure input business models are market-oriented, financially viable, and scalable across districts.

• Licensing, Regulatory Compliance & Systems: Support FPCs in obtaining and maintaining statutory licenses for seed sale, fertilizer distribution, and pesticide retail, as applicable.
• Ensure compliance with relevant state and central regulations governing agri-input businesses.
• Liaise with agriculture departments, licensing authorities, and regulatory bodies to facilitate approvals, renewals, and audits.

• Private Sector Partnerships & Input Company Engagement: Establish and manage partnerships with seed companies, fertilizer manufacturers, crop protection firms, agri-equipment suppliers, and agri-tech players.
• Lead formalization of MoUs and commercial arrangements with private sector players for assured supply, competitive pricing, and technical support.
• Facilitate strategic alignment with partners such as Syngenta to leverage AE platforms for aggregation and last-mile input delivery.
• Organize buyer–seller meets, exposure visits, and negotiation support to strengthen FPC market positioning and supplier relationships.

• AE Integration & Last-Mile Delivery: Leverage JEEViKA AE, VO, and CLF platforms for farmer demand aggregation and efficient distribution of inputs at the last mile.
• Align input supply planning with cropping calendars, extension activities, and district-level demand patterns.
• Support integration of digital and data-enabled tools, where feasible, to improve demand forecasting and distribution efficiency.

• Monitoring, Reporting & Knowledge Management: Monitor performance of FPC-led input businesses, including sales volumes, margins, outreach, and farmer satisfaction.
• Track risks related to compliance, inventory, and market volatility, and recommend corrective actions.
• Document good practices, lessons learned, and scalable models for replication.
• Develop SoPs, operational guidelines, and IEC materials related to input business management and compliance.

• Team Coordination & Communication: Provide technical guidance to district and field teams on input business operations and private sector engagement.
• Maintain regular communication with program leadership on progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities.
• Contribute to cross-learning and coordination with market linkage, seed, and value chain teams.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Educational Qualifications: Master’s degree in agriculture, Agronomy, Agribusiness Management, Seed Technology, Plant Protection, or Rural Management from a reputable institution.
• Extensive Experience: 10–15 years of relevant professional experience in agri-input distribution, agri-retail, seed/fertilizer/pesticide businesses, or FPC/FPO input enterprises.
• Demonstrated experience in structured trading, buyer engagement, price discovery mechanisms, and market risk management.
• Experience working with commodity exchanges, trading platforms, processors, aggregators, agri-tech firms, or institutional buyers is preferred.
• Experience in government, donor, or CSR-funded agriculture programs with a market-oriented approach is desirable.
• Strong understanding of physical commodity markets, agri-input and output value chains, and post-harvest management systems.
• Exposure to price risk management approaches, digital trading platforms, and market-linked finance.
• Familiarity with Bihar’s agricultural context and the FPC/FPO ecosystem.
• Communication Excellence: Outstanding English writing and presentation skills.
• Team Collaboration: Experience working in multi-cultural, cross-functional teams.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are essential.

Location

Patna, India