Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

To guarantee smallholder farmers over 98% accurate reports/alerts sent via phones, we integrate AI-powered satellite data analytics with data from our solar-powered IoT (crop and soil) sensor to halt and reverse soil degradation, crop pests and diseases.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our technology combines AI-powered satellite data analytics, and data from our solar-powered IoT (crop and soil) sensor. First, the sensor is installed in the farm. It conducts soil tests to get over 15 soil health parameters (pH, moisture, temp, soil nutrient levels, NPK, etc) and accurate soil inputs. Then, scans crop leaves and stems to detect crop pests and diseases. These data are combined with satellite imagery to give over 97% accurate reports/alerts sent to farmers via phones, that is, SMS or our FarmPulse mobile app. It detects 1500 crop pests and 1400 diseases to prevent crop losses. Farmers get 63% reduction in the cost of farm inputs due to accurate and targeted farm inputs application. Also, increases crop yields by 57% in 3-5 months and to over 75% per ha annually. Farmers use our over 95% accurate Crop Yield Prediction Tool as collateral to acquire loans from banks. For example, 2,298 women farmers received loans of USD36,900 in 6 months using the tool.

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

I grew up in rural Kenya with my 7 siblings and I witnessed firsthand effects of climate change, soil degradation, crop pests and diseases on crop yields. One day, my father took a loan to pay my school fees expecting to repay it with crop yields due that year. The crop yields failed and our livestock and water tanks were auctioned leading to a downward spiral to poverty. As a result, my elder brother Justin dropped out of school and I grew up feeling guilty because I was convinced that I caused it. Our case is not isolated. FAO estimates that Kenya is home to 7.8 million smallholder farmers who get 45-100% crop destruction due to crop pests and diseases. 65% of their agricultural land is badly affected by soil degradation and 98% of them depend on unreliable rainfall. 80% of the affected are women and youths. Notably, these farmers are not able to use expected crop harvests as collateral to acquire bank loans. To date, they are unable to predict the weather for easier planning.

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

By combining satellite imagery with data from our IoT sensor, the farmer gets over 98% accurate reports/alerts. It’s 80% cheaper, issues 15 days of weather forecasts and helps detect 1500 crop pests, and 1400 diseases early enough to avoid crop losses. Farmers accurately determine farm inputs like fertilizers or pesticides to reduce the cost of farm inputs by more than 63% and guarantees 98% crop performance. The solution helps increase crop yields by 57% per ha in 3-6 months and to over 75% per ha in 1 year. Farmers use our Crop Yield Prediction Tool as collateral to acquire loans from banks. The Scouting Tool helps identify underperforming crops, the sensor scans the affected crops, identifies the problem, magnitude and gives solutions. The reports/alerts sent to farmers are translated into local languages e.g Swahili for easier interpretation. The sensor is solar-powered and scans pests and diseases within a radius of 168 meters at a time. Soil tests take 3 minutes per test.

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

We target smallholder farmers who usually own less than 2 ha of land but account for 80% of all farmers in Kenya. We currently have 3,978 smallholder farmers registered in our platform and 2,880 actively using the platform monthly from Rift Valley, Central and Eastern parts of Kenya. They are between the ages of 18-60 years and live in rural areas with majority having lower levels of literacy. 62% are women who are educated till primary education level or have no education at all and together with their families, who average 4 members per nuclear family, form the primary labor force for these farms. By 2025, we will include urban farming where farmers cultivate crops in backyards, vertical farming, rooftop and community gardens. FAO estimates that over 200 million people practice urban agriculture in Africa. Urban farming is on the rise and accounts for up to 20% of household income in African cities. However, it is faced with crop losses of 47-100% due to crop pests and diseases.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-09-09

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

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

Gladwell Kanana, as the Head of Strategy Management and Admin, holds an MSc in Strategic Management and is a Certified Public Accountant. With 18 years of experience, Gladwell brings strategic planning and financial management skills to the forefront, ensuring the company's administrative functions operate seamlessly. Her past recognition as a Women to Watch recipient in Kenya further highlights her expertise. Douglas Mwangi, the Head of Product Development and Co-founder, is a seasoned Software Engineer from Moringa School and also holds a Procurement degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, along with a Graduate Diploma from The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies, United Kingdom. He has 15 years of experience and he has previously established two technology companies to profitability. A recipient of the Top 40 Men Entrepreneurs Under 40 Years in Kenya and African Achievers Award recipient speaks volumes about his impact.

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

https://agritech.co.ke/, https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083459224289, https://www.linkedin.com/company/100015559/admin/feed/posts/, https://www.instagram.com/agritech_analytics_ltd/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Agritech

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Enhances agricultural productivity by increasing crop yields by 57% per ha in 3-6 months and to over 75% per ha annually. It detects and reports 1500 crop pests and 1400 diseases to stop crop losses. Further, 63% cost reduction of farm inputs since farmers accurately determine farm inputs like fertilizers. Farmers have recorded 98% crop performance and 50-200% increase in profitability. Also, income growth since farmers use our FarmPulse App to access market insights for their produce enabling them to negotiate better prices farmers, and realizing price increases of 25-40%. For financial inclusion, farmers now use the Crop Yield Prediction Tool as collateral to acquire loans from banks to purchase farm inputs. It’s 80% cheaper than alternatives. Normally, farmers physically submit their soil/crop samples to government or private labs for tests which takes 5-14 days at a cost of KES1000-5000 per test. Our farmers conduct unlimited tests at no extra cost with each test taking 3 minutes

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our company vision is to end hunger in Africa. We enhance agricultural productivity by helping farmers achieve a 57% increase in crop yields per ha in 3-6 months and over 75% per ha annually significantly boosting food production and availability. Our pest and disease management system detects and prevents over 1500 crop pests and 1400 diseases, effectively mitigating crop losses and ensuring food security for communities. For economic impact, our solution enables 98% crop performance and annual profit increases of 50-200%, enhancing economic resilience and sustainable support of families. Additionally, our Crop Yield Prediction Tool facilitates financial inclusion by allowing farmers to secure loans based on accurate yield forecasts. For example, 2,298 women farmers received loans of USD36,900 in 6 months using the tool. It achieves an impressive 80% reduction in testing costs, making essential agricultural diagnostics accessible and cost-effective for smallholder farmers.

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

6

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

Lives are improved. The precisely monitored soil health and crop growth have enabled reduced and accurate usage of farm chemicals, thus guaranteeing improved nutrition and access to healthy foods. For example, a 39% increase was observed in the Dietary Diversity Score and an increase in the mean Hb value by 0.83 g/dL for 820+ women directly using our technology. Our farmers record enhanced water, fertilizer and pesticide usage reduction by 65%, 75% and 80% respectively. This translates to reduction of chemical elements in the crop produce and water bodies.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We democratize access to agricultural knowledge by providing smallholder farmers with cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights via our solution. They can now easily afford education for their children and themselves. Farmers access demo farms, educational resources, and training on soil degradation, crop pests and diseases management, and sustainable practices. For example, in the last 8 months, we’ve trained 5820 women farmers on this. We promote digital literacy among farmers by offering training programs on data interpretation, sensor operation, and mobile application usage. These prepares them for the digital economy and enhance their readiness to leverage agricultural technologies effectively. We’ve collaborated with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Zetech University. These partnerships strengthen agricultural education and research capabilities, benefiting students and farming communities alike.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

We’re keen on gender equality where we encourage, track and monitor the number of women using our solution directly. Currently, 57% of our users are women and we target to hit 62% by 2026. We promote gender equality in the workplace where everyone has equal access to job opportunities, paid equally for their work, can advance their careers, and take on leadership roles within the organization. Financial empowerment and inclusion where 2,298 women farmers received loans of USD36,900 from Vision Afrika Sacco in 6 months using the Crop Yield Prediction Tool. We’ve established local partnerships with 34 women farmer groups for comprehensive training to empower regional users. For example, in the last 8 months, we’ve trained 5820 women farmers. During data collection and analysis, we collect and analyze data that includes gender-disaggregated information to understand the impact of our solution on different demographics and genders. This helps us tailor our offerings further.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Our solution contributes to the Clean Water and Sanitation goal by promoting sustainable farming practices and efficient water management. It contains soil moisture sensors that determine the amounts of water required by the soils. This helps farmers optimize water usage in farm irrigation, reducing agricultural runoff and preserving water quality. Additionally, we conduct regular training programs to educate farmers on sustainable water practices, such as soil moisture monitoring and rainwater harvesting which contribute to water conservation efforts at the local level. Our efforts in promoting efficient agricultural water use align with broader sustainability goals, supporting access to clean water resources in agricultural communities.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our technology promotes the use of solar-powered IoT sensors for farmers, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. This approach ensures that the solution is accessible to the last mile farmers. It not only enhances sustainability in agriculture but also contributes to the broader goal of ensuring access to affordable, sustainable, reliable, and modern energy solutions in rural areas.

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

Our company plays a significant role in job creation and sustainability within the agricultural sector. Currently, we’ve employed 9 staff members who are involved in various aspects of tech-nology development, customer support, and operations management. Additionally, we’ve 200 contractual agents to support our outreach and service delivery. During expansion phases like entering new regions, we create more jobs in sales, training, and technical support, often reaching up to 500 jobs per month. Further, farmers access a Crop Yield Prediction Tool to get loans for more productivity We have 2,880 farmers using our solution monthly and through our technology and services, these farmers sustain and grow their agricultural businesses. Through the technology and training programs, these farmers experience increased productivity and efficiency. This translates into crop yields increase of 75% per ha annually, 63% reduction in farm input costs, and ultimately, enhanced profitability of 50-200

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

We contribute to by developing and deploying advanced technological solutions in agriculture. Our technology employs IoT sensor technology, big data analytics, Machine Learning and AI-driven insights to halt and reverse soil degradation, crop pests and diseases. We have installed 2,591 IoT sensors across 2,900 farms, providing real-time data on over 15 soil parameters like soil moisture, soil nutrient levels, and crop health, which helps farmers optimize their resources and increase crop yields by 75% per ha annually. By training 400 farmers per month in precision pest and disease management, soil health management and sustainable farming techniques, all farmers benefit, fostering inclusive growth. Our IoT sensor is solar-powered which reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources and also supports sustainable farming practices. Additionally, our cloud-based analytics platform provides robust data storage and processing capabilities, ensuring resilience and scalability.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

We democratize access to advanced agricultural technologies and knowledge, thus reducing the digital divide. Our platform empowers over 2,880 smallholder farmers monthly or 34,560 per year, many of whom are in underserved and rural communities, with solutions that were previ-ously accessible only to large-scale farmers. Our Crop Yield Prediction Tool is used as collateral for loans helping farmers access capital, allowing them to invest in better seeds, fertilizers, and farming equipment, thus increasing their productivity and income. We ensure inclusivity by targeting marginalized groups, with 55% of our training program par-ticipants being women, thus promoting gender equality and economic empowerment. Additionally, our efforts to source local products and engage local suppliers further support economic growth and reduce regional disparities.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

By improving crop yields and profitability, we enhance the economic stability of rural areas, reducing the pressure on urban centers caused by rural-urban migration. Our initiatives in digital literacy and modern farming techniques empower rural communities, making them more resilient and self-sustaining. For example, farmers increase their crop yields by over 75% per hectare annually, leading to more stable food supplies and economic growth in rural regions.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

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

Farmers have recorded reduction of pesticide use by up to 80%, leading to a reduction in GHGs of up to 3 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of pesticide saved. Additionally, 65% reduction in water usage and reduced nitrogen application rates by 40-56%, leading to an estimated reduction in GHGs of up to 6 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of nitrogen saved. Also, reduced crop destruction thus sequestering more carbon. This has led to a significant decrease in nitrous oxide emissions, avoiding 85,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. Our solution has since restored and rewilded 82,930+ ha of land from soil degradation. Further, 63% costs reduction of farm inputs. Also, detection of 1500 crop pests and 1400 diseases enabling farmers to take targeted and timely actions, resulting to 65% reduction in crop losses due to pests and diseases, equivalent to preserving 68,000 tonnes of crops annually. We are working on a carbon calculator and monetization module to be incorporated in the platform.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The IoT sensor is installed on the farm, it conducts soil tests to determine over 15 soil parameters and precise soil inputs. It also detects 1500 crop pests and 1400 diseases to stop crop damage. For improved accuracy, these data are combined with satellite imagery, and insights sent to the farmers via phones. Farmers have reduced pesticide usage by 80%, water consumption by 65% and fertilizer usage by 75%, thereby minimizing pollution and conserving vital resources. We offer training programs focused on sustainable land management, such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming. These practices not only improve soil health but also combat desertification and land degradation. In regions prone to soil erosion, our methods have led to a 25% increase in soil retention and fertility. For example, in one of our projects in Makueni County, 500 participating farmers have collectively restored over 1,000 ha of degraded land by adopting our recommended practices.

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

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

We’ve few farmers using farm sensors but we integrate satellite data analytics and data from our IoT sensor to give farmers 98%+ accurate reports/alerts on their phones. This represents an en-tirely new type of solution that combines real-time data collection with predictive analytics to provide actionable insights. It’s a new technology as our sensor combines soil and crop sensors into one sensor with a crop pests and diseases scanning radius of 168 meters and performs soil tests in 3 minutes. Our plat-form is an improvement on existing services. It offers more precise data and it’s accessible to last mile farmers. The service also extends the range of agricultural products by incorporating features like Scout-ing Tool to identify underperforming crops, Crop Yield Prediction Tool for loans and 15 days’ weather forecasts other platforms lack. Our solution responds to unmet demands by addressing gaps in crop pests and diseases detection, soil tests, knowledge transfer and resource manag

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Use of traditional farming methods like the use of wind direction to predict rain. Our target us-ers are 75% illiterate or semi-illiterate farmers. They have what they call "Our way of doing things" which in some communities, it is engraved in their taboos, cultures, and customs. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation. The farmer submits crop or soil sam-ples physically for testing and analysis. Each test costs an average of USD15 and takes 2 to 3 weeks for the farmer to get the results. On the contrary, our solution is 80% cheaper, the farmer conduct unlimited onsite tests at no extra costs and the test results delivered via their phones. Competition from existing low-quality crop sensors where the farmer has to use many sensors to get farm information. Our solution combines data leverages AI-powered satellite data analytics and IoT sensor’s data. The farmer only uses one sensor for crop growth monitoring, soil health management, water management, and weather predicti

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

Pioneered a mentorship and support network called DadaInuka Forum, a mentorship program where successful female entrepreneurs in agriculture mentor and support aspiring female farmers. We have quarterly physical meetings where these entrepreneurs meet with farmers, and also via WhatsApp groups where farmers fully engage them at all times. This network provides guidance, resources, and encouragement, helping women navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the agricultural sector. Recognizing the financial barriers that often hinder female entrepreneurs, we collaborate with Vision Afrika Sacco to facilitate access to credit specifically for women. Our Crop Yield Prediction Tool helps women use predicted yields as collateral to secure loans, with over 3,200 women benefiting from this initiative so far. We have strategic partnerships with 22 farmer cooperatives, 34 women farmer groups and 23 agrovet outlets. They provide resources, training, and support to female entrepreneurs.