Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This project aims at sensitizing rural farmers on the importance of irrigation agriculture. It aims at using the water resources on the banks of the Kafue River where farmers will be engaged to venture in the production of various crops.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The Itezhi Tezhi rural community along the Kafue River banks presents this proposal for consideration by esteemed donors and embassies. The purpose of this document is to seek assistance in acquiring inputs and equipment vital for an irrigation project aimed at initially benefiting about 380 households and piloting over 200Ha of land which will be put under irrigated crop production. The Itezhi-Tezhi rural community, situated along the banks of the Kafue River, faces numerous challenges, including poverty, illiteracy, and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Following the prolonged dry spells which later resulted in a drought in the 2023/2024 farming season; crop production has been seriously affected in the district. A crop forecast survey conducted in all the camps across the district showed that 82% of the crop has actually failed. This has presented a huge challenge on food security as most families are expected to starve.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Every community or farmer group dealing with vulnerable people should always have a sustainable program in place to ensure the smooth running of farmers' interests without disruptions. However, in the rural communities of Itezhi Tezhi District, located in Chief Chikaza Munyama's Chiefdom within Southern Province, there exists a pressing challenge exacerbated by the region's vulnerability to drought. Southern Province, being drought-prone, heavily relies on government-subsidized rain-fed agricultural inputs and donations for its food sustenance. This dependency presents a significant risk, particularly during periods of prolonged drought, as evidenced by the severe impacts experienced during the 2023/2024 drought. In Chief Chikaza Munyama's Chiefdom, where farmers predominantly rely on livestock and rain-fed agriculture, the effects of drought are particularly devastating, affecting both crops and livestock.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Maize is a priority crop to be grown in order to address the hunger situation. The production will be done in 2 consecutive growing periods and it is projected to be harvested twice. Between March and July the first harvest of 2,500MT will be done and thereafter in August and November the second harvest of over 2,500MT will follow. This means that the total of over 5,000MT will be added to the food basket. This production alone will reduce the District’s maize requirement by over 60%.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

This project is targeting to serve the general public of itezhi-tezhi district with fresh agricultural products such as maize, tomatoes, vegetables and other vital crops. And so the farmers will benefit by selling their produce to the general public while the public will benefit by accessing fresh farm products.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-06-30

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

This is a youth led initiative which has engaged a few of the locals in producing fresh farm products. We use local unskilled labour which is monitored by experienced agriculture officers whom we work hand in hand for technical support. This initiative mainly seeks to shift the farmers thinking away from rain fed agricultural activities to irrigated which is easy to control and monitor.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://web.facebook.com/vintelfoundation

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

If we talk of food production, this speaks directly to the goal which aims at no poverty. In producing food we are assured that the public will be food secure. A food secure public is what we intent to see. We will strive to produce the most crucial foods that are needed in the day to day lives of the people.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Same as the other goal, our project aims at ending hunger. Food production is at the heart of this project and ensuring that irrigation is adopted in the production process.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Without good food on people's tables, it is difficult to have good health and well-being. This project, is anchored on positively impacting people's lives by providing them with good and healthy food production.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

When a child is well fed, they stand a chance of doing better and being able to concentrate on their studies. We are in the food production sector which complements other sectors such as health and education.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

This project does not directly impact on gender equality.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Considering that this project also focused on irrigation development, the people stand a chance of having access to clean water and sanitation through the irrigation infrastructure which will be developed.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

As people get impowered with this initiative they will definitely stay away from charcoal burning. Improved incomes are most likely going to push the people to invest in clean and renewable energy.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

This project strives to be a major contributor towards economic growth. By engaging in food production, this project is better placed to contribute to decent work and economic growth.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

As incomes are improving, it most likely there will be industry innovation and infrastructure.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

This project is most likely to positively contribute to reduced inequalities because it brings about a level playing field for food production participants.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

This project is most likely to bring about sustainable cities and communities due to the fact that they will be busy producing products whose market is readily available.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Justification is that when people are producing their own food, they will be responsible enough to ensure that consumption and production is done is a strategic manner.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

This project is at the heart of climatic action. Good practices that aim at reducing tree cutting activities and green house gas emissions.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

To a less extent this project does not touch on life below water.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

This project directly positively impacts restoration of land. It promotes smart agriculture which does not promote land degradation and other negative impacts on the environment.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

This project does not directly focus on peace justice and strong institutions.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

This project is open to partnerships. Food production requires that various stakeholders are engaged for it to be a success.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

5

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

4

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

4

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

Food production has been there and it will always be there for as long as people will be there to eat. There is nothing new that we are doing apart from ensuring that the food production process is not reliant .

06.09 Competitive Analysis

The major competitors are farmers who are already producing food for the local community in itezhi-tezhi. The major advantage we are adopting now is the ability to be able to buy modern irrigation equipment which will increase production and productivity.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?