Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This project aims at combining the production of citrus fruits and vegetables on the same piece of farming land. While citrus fruit trees will be permanently on farm location, the vegetables will be produced on crop rotation basis.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The project will need an irrigation system with an installation of 40 000 liters of water powered by solar and using a borehole as a water source which approximately can cost K200 0000, 144 trees per hectare of land and is likely to cost about K7200. Then, it will need 100Kg Fertilizer which is about K2000. Animal manure can be organized locally at little or no cost.

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

According to the Zambia Statistics Agency census report of 2022, Vubwi District has a population of 53080, Chadiza District has a population of 111069 and Chipata District has a population of 206552. These Districts are found in the Eastern Part of Zambia which has a total population of 2, 454, 788. On average, these Districts are 200 Km apart. A quick scan of the markets in these Districts reveal that we currently have poorly locally produced fruits available and most of the available fruits are imported and supplied largely by large retail Supermarkets owned by International Businesses. Hence, when this project is established, it will contribute to the supply of good quality fruits and vegetables targeting the markets highlighted. Good quality fruits and vegetables should be part of a daily diet for each family to ensure that people enjoy a health life. This is because fruits and vegetables provide minerals, vitamins and fibres in less supply by other food items consumed.

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

The product/ service will be locally produced meaning that it will be provided at a cheaper and affordable price compared to what the market is currently providing. The product/ service will contribute to good health benefits for the populations that will be supplied. The product/ service will be produced in a sustainable manner through recycling of nutrients in the soil. The citrus trees will contribute to carbon extraction from the air and will use affordable and clean energy which does not pollute the air.

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

The targeted beneficiaries of this project are people in the surrounding communities from where it will be established. We aim at contributing to the nutritional requirements to people of all age groups and gender and, therefore contributing to their health outcomes.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-03-29

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

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

Chilizani Phiri, Male, aged 34. He has a MA in Economics. Racheal Mwanza, Female, aged 33. She holds BA in Public Administration Beatrice Ruzvidzo, Female, aged 32. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education Charles Junior Mwanza, Male, aged 28. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture.

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

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555074361329

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The project will provide income to the owners of the business and other workers that will be employed on the temporal and/ or permanent basis. Income is versatile and can be used for many purposes including business expansion, business diversification, savings in a bank account, expansion of assets including securing of other production lands, improving and enhancing livelihoods and creating resilience.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Fruits and Vegetables are foods that are rich in minerals, vitamins and fibre which are in little supply in other available foods stuffs. As such, this project is a big contribution to improved nutritional status for the targeted populations. The project will also involve recycling of nutrients in the soil whereby contributing to sustainable agriculture outcomes. The project will also provide income to the Business Owners and other workers. Income is versatile and part of it may be channeled to purchases of food in contribution to food security to households involved.

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

Food has a big contribution towards good health and promoting well-being to people at all ages. Therefore, this project strongly contribute to this outcome.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Since this is a Business Project, it will provide income to people who will directly be involved in the production of the fruits and vegetables either on temporal or permanent basis. Income is versatile and may be channeled to meeting school requirements for children as well as adults.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Part of the workforce that will be employed in the production of fruits and vegetables and even carrying out marketing activities will be women and girls. Moreover, girls and women will be empowered by being supported to achieve their academic and educational goals.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

For on-farm workers, part of the water will be channeled for consumption and hygiene purposes. This will be done by also constructing and installing sanitation systems to the houses on the farm.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

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 is long term project that will provide employment opportunities to the Business Owners and other allied workers. Moreover, the project will provide income that can be used for business expansion and diversification. Business expansion and diversification means more employment opportunities.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

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

The Project will be a source of employment to people of diverse backgrounds. The ones with little or no education but have a skill or talent to contribute and those who are educated are different levels. Moreover, the project will also work with other discriminated categories like women and girls. People with disability will also be considered based on what they will be able to contribute.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

The project will largely recycle nutrients in the soil thereby provide even for future generations. Once the project is established and provides income, there will be room for business expansion and diversification, asset expansion and creation of savings. This entails that there will be resilience even in the experience of adverse circumstances.

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

The project contributes to responsible production of goods/ services in that it will have mechanisms for recycling nutrients back into the soil. This means that there will be sustainable production from now up into the future. There will be no crop nutrient depletion from the soil but the soil will be maintained in good condition from our generation into the future generations.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

The project involves citrus production from citrus trees which will be used for a long period of time and replaced over time. Moreover, the project is also about vegetable production. As such, the project will contribute to climate action by extracting much carbon from the air and contribute to a reduction in climate change. Since the project will also use much irrigation, meaning that we will always have abundant moisture in the upper soils for continuous crop production. It also means that in the early stages, we may have to apply much more water to supply moisture to the crops but subsequently, because of high moisture content that will be created, less water will have to be supplied to the crop to maintain production.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

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

The project will create and maintain a forest of citrus trees thereby combating desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and loss of biodiversity. Citrus trees shed its leaves and these leaves will be considered for mulching, composting and soil nutrient recycling. This will promote biodiversity at the site of production. Another Project which may be considered alongside is honey production because citrus trees attract bees.

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

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

The Business Project may need to create reliable Supply partnerships with others acting as suppliers in the distribution chain. Moreover, the Business Project may also need reliable suppliers for inputs into the production system. These may be some of the partnerships that the Business project may create in its operation.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

2

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.

2

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

People of all ages and gender need food to survive and live healthy. Fruits and Vegetables are part of any health diet. People of all ages and gender enjoy fruits. In the case of much of the districts in Eastern Province of Zambia, the market is under-supplied with fruits and vegetables.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Much of the fruits on the markets are supplied by international Businesses. As a local Business, this is a big advantage since we are able to produce the same quality of products but provide them cheaply.

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

I have mainly been supporting my wife Beatrice Ruzvidzo, firstly with University Education and then financially for her start a small business of baking.