Tanzania - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Ngwala Inventions design and operate automated solar powered portable farm irrigation systems using AI, machine learning, SMS, IOT sensors and big data technologies to control and manage irrigation, saving 40% energy and 50% of water per acre for farmers

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Design and operate Smart Irrigator powered by solar energy that facilitates 40% energy and 50% water saving. The systems uses AI, machine learning, SMS, IOT sensors technologies for determining current flow & moisture content in the soil and big data technologies, recording, storing, communicate real time and analysis of irrigation data on energy and water usage through algorithm. Enables million famers to control and monitor both energy and water detecting leakages, current lost, pressure variations, and inefficiencies with unprecedented accuracy ensuring energy–water use efficiency. The system uses Chabot, sending SMS to farmer with tailored tips and reminders to sustain optimal long term irrigation. Results in saving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water per acre, reducing energy and water cost hence cuts irrigation cost by ½ per acre, Increasing yields from 1 to 3 tons per acre and income by 50%, mitigating and adopting to climate changes supporting 70% reduction in greenhouse gas

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

Manual, poor management and monitoring of irrigation systems leads to inefficiency use of energy- water. Over irrigation causes wastages of water for up to 50% which in turn causes longer pump run time resulting to 40% wastage of energy (World Bank, 2022). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that irrigation accounts for about 45% of global energy consumption. Farmers in developing Countries particularly Tanzania often rely on diesel-driven pumps for water abstraction and conveyance. These diesel-driven pumps create high operation costs and are prone to service gaps due to an insufficient fuel supply and technical defects which in most cases causes waste of energy for up to 40% and environment pollution (UN-Energy, 2022). 47.8% of the total irrigation pumps are diesel run which emits a huge amount of CO2, exacerbating climate change (UNEP, 2021).

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

Solar-powered irrigation systems harness energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, converting it into electricity to power water pumps. Enables million farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields and cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. The use of solar energy not only reduces operational costs, ensure farmers’ access to water throughout even dry conditions but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in helping farmers serving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water, reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost, increasing yields and income especially in dry conditions with no rain, mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). All these benefits motivate youth and women farmers participating in this sustainable agriculture

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

Millions farmers who 70% are women and youth living in rural areas irrigating their fields and cultivate crops relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels such as diesel generators. The market size for all types of irrigation technologies in Tanzania was estimated to be USD 86.2 million in 2018 and expected to grow to USD 521 million by 2025.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2019-05-31

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

6

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

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

1. Edmond Ng’walago is a Cofounder. He is a logistician cum climate smart agribusiness professional. He has 6 years’ experience in managing local and International climate smart agribusiness and energy projects. 2. Ms Chanda Chalwe is a Quality Control Manager. She has Master of Science in Energy Policy. She has 4 years of experience in Renewable Energy Systems. 3. Cornel Mtavungu is a computer engineer. He holds Bachelors of Science in Computer Engineering. He has three years of experience in software development. 4. Ms. Jeruphina Ponsian is a manager of operations with Bachelor of Science in renewable energy and energy systems. She is a young researcher. She has worked with Mysol energy Company for over 5 years. 4. Anord Ndimbo is a Finance Manager. A multi-professional person with Bachelor of Education in Commerce (BedCom) and a registered member of NBAA in Tanzania. He has more than four years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial advisory and financial management

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/ngwalainventions2024, https://web.facebook.com/InventionsNg/, https://youtu.be/oCXVdgtJOzg

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Solar-powered irrigation systems harness energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, converting it into electricity to power water pumps. Enables farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields and cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. The use of solar energy not only reduces operational costs, ensure farmers’ access to water throughout even dry conditions but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in saving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water per acre in turn boosts income increasing serving, double farmers income and improving their living standards shift from living under $2 to over $5per da

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Solar-powered irrigation systems harness energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, converting it into electricity to power water pumps. Enables farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields and cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. The use of solar energy not only reduces operational costs, ensure farmers’ access to water throughout even dry conditions but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in reducing energy and water cost hence cuts irrigation cost by ½ per acre, Increasing yields from 1 to 3 tons per acre and income by 50% especially in dry conditions with no rain

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Solar-powered irrigation systems harness energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, converting it into electricity to power water pumps. Enables farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields and cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. The use of solar energy not only reduces operational costs, ensure farmers’ access to water throughout even dry conditions but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in health benefits with nutrients-rich crops which improves the overall heath of human being.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The system is integrated with an online platform that offers training to farmers on energy-water efficiency operations using Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) approved agro-ecology curriculum

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

We help farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields on credit for those who unable to pay cash on spot and support them cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in helping serving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water, reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost, increasing yields and income, mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). All these benefits motivate youth and women farmers participating much in this sustainable agriculture creating more numbers greener jobs.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Irrigation system enables famers to control and monitor water detecting leakages, pressure variations, and inefficiencies with unprecedented accuracy serving 50 of water during irrigation exercise

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our energy-water efficiency irrigation systems uses solar energy to power water pumps and provide irrigation water for agricultural purposes, offering a viable alternative to traditional diesel or grid-connected pumps, becomes economically viable option to our customers / for farmers. This is a clean source of energy which cheaper making our irrigation system and service cheaper, affordable, accessible and available at lowest cost while supporting mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases

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

Solar-powered irrigation systems harness energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, converting it into electricity to power water pumps. Enables farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields and cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. The use of solar energy not only reduces operational costs, ensure farmers’ access to water throughout even dry conditions but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in motivating youth and women farmers participating much in sustainable agriculture which in turn creates thousands numbers of greener jobs

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

We design and operate automated on demand digital portable shared farm irrigation machine powered by solar energy that facilitates 40% energy and 50% water saving. The machines uses AI, machine learning, SMS, IOT sensors technologies for determining current flow & moisture content in the soil and big data technologies, recording, storing, communicate real time and analysis of irrigation data on energy and water usage through algorithm.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

We help farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields on credit for those who unable to pay cash on spot and support them cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels. Our energy-water efficacy irrigation systems is a shared service that uses electron cards or digital token allowing farmers paying for the irrigation service bills on pay as you irrigate basis making our irrigation service affordable, reliable, accessible and available for every farmer even those will low income in anywhere. All these benefits motivate youth and women farmers participating much in this sustainable agriculture creating more numbers greener jobs.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Our energy-water efficiency irrigation systems uses solar energy to power water pumps and provide irrigation water for agricultural purposes, offering a viable alternative to traditional diesel or grid-connected pumps, becomes economically viable option to our customers / for farmers. This is a clean source of energy which cheaper making our irrigation system and service cheaper, affordable, accessible and available at lowest cost while supporting mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Our irrigation systems helps farmers enables famers to control and monitor both energy and water detecting leakages, current lost, pressure variations, and inefficiencies with unprecedented accuracy ensuring energy–water use efficiency. The machines are connected to online data base/server allowing farmer to register and receive electronic cards used for paying irrigation service bills on pay as you irrigate basis making it affordable for every farmer in anywhere. The system uses Chabot concept, sending SMS to farmer with tailored tips and reminders to sustain optimal long term irrigation practices. It helps farmers to manage and monitor energy and water usage sending message, showing quantity of water used, amount paid for irrigation service, hectors covered, time used and other data that support in future decision making for energy–water efficiency. Results in saving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water per acre in turn boosts income increasing saving

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Closing the gap of diesel water pump through supplying solar water pump reaching 1 billion people in Sub-Saharan and Asia, help farmers save over $100 billion USD in fuel costs and avoid emitting 410 Mt of CO2 per year

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Our energy - water efficiency irrigation system prevents over irrigation hence avoid soil erosion and loss of fertile land. It prevents pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, prevents clogging of waterways increasing fish and other species.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our energy - water efficiency irrigation system prevents over irrigation hence avoid soil erosion and loss of fertile land. Prevents flood by preventing over irrigation which cause degraded lands making it unable to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Our energy - water efficiency irrigation system enables famers to control and monitor both energy and water detecting leakages, current lost, pressure variations, and inefficiencies with unprecedented accuracy serving 40% of energy and 50 % water reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost by 50%, increasing yields from 1 ton to 3 tons per acre, double farmers income and improving their living standards shift from living under $2 to over $5per day especially in dry conditions with no rain making happier life among communities.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Creation of long term partnership with stakeholders like Total energies, being part of making a sustainable agriculture, food, water, environment, climate, energy future for Tanzanians. Communicative accessible, flexible, provide mutual cooperation in each and every stage of the program. The fruits of the partnership will be proved by the measurable expected results of serving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water, reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost, increasing yields and income especially in dry conditions with no rain, mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). The impacts will attract other local and International energy players from the ecosystem to join us. Hence expanding our geographical area of saving and impacts creation. Together we create a Sustainable agriculture, food, water, environment, climate and energy practices for a greener future.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

Its a new created product and service in the market

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

Competitors  Mysol - https://engie-energyaccess.com/solutions  AG Energies -https://agenergies.co.tz/  Aptechafrica -https://aptechafrica.com/ Competitive advantages  Our energy - water efficiency irrigation system enables famers to control and monitor both energy and water detecting leakages, current lost, pressure variations, and inefficiencies with unprecedented accuracy serving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50, reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost by 50%, increasing yields from 1 ton to 3 tons per acre, double farmers income and improving their living standards shift from living under $2 to over $5per day especially in dry conditions with no rain, mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases  Our energy-water efficacy irrigation systems uses Chabot concept, sending SMS to farmer with tailored tips and reminders to sustain optimal long term irrigation practices.

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

We help farmers who 70% are women and youth to irrigate their fields on credit for those who unable to pay cash on spot and support them cultivate crops without relying on grid electricity or expensive fossil fuels but also minimizes carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to a greener and more sustainable agricultural sector. Results in helping serving 30%-40% of energy and 20%-50% of water, reducing energy cost hence cuts irrigation cost, increasing yields and income, mitigating and adopting to climate changes and reduce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). All these benefits motivate youth and women farmers participating much in this sustainable agriculture creating more numbers greener jobs.