Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We wish to establish an organic integrated farm that supports green economy and climate smart innovations to produce livestock, poultry, fish, fruits and other agricultural products.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Located in Nchelenge District of Luapula province, Depa Solutions is a startup business that wishes to address the challenge of depleted fish levels in Lake Mweru. The natural fish in the lake is facing extinction due to high reliance on the fish as the sole economic activity in the area. Despite having vast land, good fertile soils and a good climate with high rainfall. Depa Solutions intends to establish a an integrated farm that shall serve as a demonstration farm for other would be farmers to copy and learn from. We will practice mixed farming but on an extensive part where we will produce more on a small piece of land.

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

This project intends to prove that integrated farming is the way out and one of the sustainable solutions for the people of Nchelenge, especially at the time when their most reliable source of income, fishing is facing extinction in the lake. The innovation of this project will set up a demo farm that shall prove that farmers do not need to have a lot of land but that they can still use small pieces of land to produce enough for sale and consumption

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

The benefits of this project are that we will inspire people to start practising climate smart integrated farming that is extensive in nature. The outcome will be increased productivity, more sustainable communities, hunger free communities and more income and economically resilient communities.

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

The target beneficiaries are the fishermen that rely solely on fishing and farmers that are struggling with productivity due to high costs of fertilizers and other farming inputs.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-05-08

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.)

Mr Paul Msanide Mwale is a graduate of a bachelor's degree from the University of Zambia, a certified credit professional and a candidate for a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) specialising in Project Management. With over 5 years of professional experience, he is a renowned administrator and corporate professional who has through experience learnt management expertise needed for business management.

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

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

It supports community engagement in diversified income generating activities by supporting climate smart organic farming

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

It inspires and empowers communities to engage in agricultural production to support their livelihoods and also as a business

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

5

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

Good health springs from a community that is thriving economically

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

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

By practicing climate smart integrated farming, we will ensure environment friendly practices which ensures clean water and sanitation

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

On an integrated farm, we will teach people to use biogas digesters from the animal dung instead of cutting down trees to make charcoal or use firewood as source of energy

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Farming is a lifetime kind of employment that is decent and well paying

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

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

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

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

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

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

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

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

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

3

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.

6

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

4

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

6

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

6

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

3

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.09 Competitive Analysis

The project will compete with established commercial farms that have mechanized production on a large scale

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

Yes I am coaching female entrepreneurs and prioritize female applicants for positions