Terms of Reference for Expression of Interest by Survey Firms: Pilot Agricultural Household Survey in India
Invitation to submit Expression of Interest
As part of the collaborative study “The Dynamics of Agricultural Innovation in India” by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies and Monash University, Monash University seeks to invite qualified survey firms to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to conduct a pilot survey in preparation for the Integrated Agricultural Household Survey (IAHS) 2026.
The Pilot will take place in November-December 2025. We expect to engage 3-4 survey firms for this Pilot and will select one or two firms for the IAHS survey, based on performance in the Pilot.
Who you will work with: You will work with the research team of investigators from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia), Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia), the Indian Statistical Institute (Bengaluru), and the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (Bengaluru).
Pilot scope: The pilot survey will cover approximately 100 households across any two of the six target states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Activities include:
- Farmer listing in selected villages to create a sampling frame for household selection
- Socioeconomic survey: abbreviated agricultural household survey, focusing on farm inputs and yields for the previous cropping season, agronomic practices, and access to extension services
- Plot identification and measurement:
- Perimeter walk with GPS to measure plot size (main plot only)
- Collect soil samples (main plot only)
- Identifying and photographing plots with zero-tillage and residue retention
- Biophysical data: collection and storage of young leaf samples from the farmer’s main plots
- Target crops: wheat (north-western region, Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh) and potato (eastern region: Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha)
The research team will provide a draft of the agricultural household questionnaire and will provide protocols for leaf collection and soil sampling.
Methodology requirements
Successful firms must:
- Use CAPI for data collection (state the preferred software in EoI)
- Design and implement high-frequency checks during fieldwork
- Provide detailed updates to the research team throughout the fieldwork effort
- Propose a protocol for back checks (final responsibility for this will rest with a third party)
Deliverables for the Pilot
- Raw and cleaned data files in .csv format, together with a full data dictionary (with variable names, labels, and descriptions)
- Labelled leaf and soil samples
- Documentation covering enumerator recruitment, training, and fieldwork
- A cost estimate for the full 2026 IAHS data collection, with detailed cost breakdowns
Qualifications
Firms should demonstrate:
- Proven experience with agricultural household surveys
- Capacity to handle both socioeconomic and biophysical data collection
- Familiarity with high-quality CAPI-based survey implementation, data management, and quality assurance
- Strong logistical capacity to operate in multiple regions
Expressions of Interest (EoI) submissions
Interested firms should submit:
- A statement of interest and relevant experience (including an indication of interest in operating in the north-western region, the eastern region, or both) [maximum 500 words; survey firms may append a brief annex (maximum 2 pages) with details of relevant experience]
- Proposed approach to implementing the Pilot [maximum 1000 words]
- Comprehensive budget for Pilot data collection [Excel spreadsheet]
Send EoIs to Associate Professor Gaurav Datt (gaurav.datt@monash.edu). Please direct any questions to Gaurav Datt, Jose María Martínez (josemaria.martinez@monash.edu), and Emilia Tjernstrom (emilia.tjernstrom@mq.edu.au).
Closing date/time for submission of EoIs is 7 October 2025, 23:59 hrs Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
Following a review of EoIs received by the project research team, survey firms selected for the Pilot will be notified by 15 October 2025, who will then be engaged by Monash University to conduct the Pilot.
