Namibia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This project will aim for mass production of potatoes and sweet-potatoes in Namibia. The project will have its focus on strengthing food security and to takle food shortage problem in the country.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

This initiative will have its products available to businesses owners that sell raw potatoes, processed potatoes products and "zero value" waste from potatoes. The change in rainfall patterns in Namibia is causing drought. The food prices are increasing due to higher demand and poor rainfall. Namibia produce millet and corns in a large amount. The project will supplement those crops to achieve its objectives. Subsistence farmers in Namibia put pressure on the government in years of drought, as they demand food aid. The project would also like to see potatoes and sweet-potatoes incorporated into food aid given in the country. Potato have a growing season of 3-4 months and have a shelf life of 10-12 months when cooked and frozen, which gives them a high economic value.

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

The project will try to solve food shortage in the country. It will put some of the United Nation sustainable development goals into implementation, such as Zero hunger; Climate change action; Responsible consumption and production.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

1. To improve food security. 2. To address the current climatic condition by diversifying food production. 3. To reduce the country's dependence on foreign import. 4. To decrease potato and potato-derived products prices.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The project will mainly aims at serving Wholesalers (B2B and B2G). Depending on the market and the amount of production, the project might also target Retailers (B2C).

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-12

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Partner 1: Graduate, Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (thesis) Partner 2: Graduate, (Agricultural Science) Partner 3: Graduate, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/varde-ndipolifa-93b0842a1

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The project will contribute to the no poverty goal by providing job opportunities and by offering its products at affordable prices.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The project will address "Zero hunger " by boosting food production and by offering those products at affordable prices.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Potatoes are healthy vegetables rich in vitamin c and the contain antioxidants. They have many health benefits such as preventing heart attacks, lowering blood pressure and preventing cancer.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The project will have men and women working together to achieve a common goal.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

The project will boost the country's economy with its production. It will provide job opportunities and will enable people to increase their standards of living.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

The project will have men and women working together to achieve a common goal. The project is pledging to have equal treatment to all it employees irrespective of their race, culture and social status.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The project will provide guidance on how to cook potato and how to store potato to its customers and the general public. Undercooked food and food spoiled during storage both ends up in dustbin. End-user with knowledge in food presevertion methods are responsible consumers. The project will put more efforts in doing market research and planning to avoid food loss and wastage.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

To adapt to climate change, diversification of crops is necessary. It act sa an alternative if the mostly produced crops in the country fail. Potato will be irrigated, change in precipitation might not affect the yield. The increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere does not negatively affect potato growth and productivity. However concentration exceeding 1% have negative impact on the production. Potato vegetation will reduce the effect of global warming.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

The project will combat desertification by turning land into green fields. To prevent land pollution, paper bags and boxes will be used for packaging. Land pollution leads to loss in natural habitats. Apart from pests, the project will use environmentally-friendly practices to preserve biodiversity.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The project is willing to cooperate and form partnerships with Organizations that have the know-how in potato farming to access the market; boost its production ;fair trade and to thrive in the market. The project is also open to competitors that want to support the initiative in terms of training and sharing their experiences.

05.01 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

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

05.01- The products we envision creating, have a large number of customers who use the product but there is high demand in restaurants. 05.04 The products we envision creating are an improvement on the existing products as it's going to be produced locally. 05.05 The product is an extension of a range of products. Potatoes can be processed into different products. 05.06 The product we envision creating responds to the demand. The country imports about 60% of potatoes. The local potato farmers are only producing about 40%. 05.07 The project will target product versioning by modifying and customizing the product.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The main potential competitors are potato farmers and wholesalers. To stand out from the competitors; the project will ensure accessibility to information about the products;accessibility of the products; promotion and market segmentation.

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

The project will promote female entrepreneurs by getting them involved in the Agribusiness initiative and by using the business products to generate income e.g. Fast-food businesses.