Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Empowering Women and youth Smallholder Farmers and Refugees in Kyegegwa District and Kyaka II Refugee Settlement by providing them with high-quality climate-smart farm inputs and comprehensive on-farm extension and training.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our proposed project aims to empower smallholder small holder farmer households in Kyegegwa District and Kyaka II Refugee Settlement by providing them with high-quality climate-smart farm inputs and comprehensive on-farm extension and training. With a focus on mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and bolstering agricultural productivity, this initiative aims to provide targeted extension & training sessions, on-farm demonstrations, and capacity-building workshops which will equip rural smallholder farmers and refugee communities with the skills, resources, and support networks necessary to enhance agricultural productivity and adopt sustainable farming practices such as fertilizer micro-dosing, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and integrated pest and disease management which will not only increase crop yields and boost their household incomes but also protect natural resources, mitigate climate-related risks, and improve long-term resilience for their communities.

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

Kyegegwa district, in western Uganda, is known for its fertile land and favorable climate, making it suitable for agriculture. Kyaka II Refugee Settlement also located in Kyegegwa District hosts about 113,000 refugees majority from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with about 58% of them deriving their livelihood from farming. 62% of the refugees reported lack of adequate skills and work opportunities as a major livelihood challenge despite 93% of them having access to land for cultivation. Majority of these farmers face numerous barriers to improving their productivity like limited access to quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and training which are essential for enhancing their farm output and incomes. By equipping them with high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and knowledge of modern agricultural techniques, they can increase crop yields, diversify their livelihoods, and access markets more effectively hence solving their challenge of poverty and boosting their resilience.

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

It is a scalable and replicable model of solving the low productivity and income problem among smallholder farmers by addressing the root causes of these problems and boosting market for both agricultural inputs and produce by providing farmers with first jnowledge, skills and support networks to improve output and access better markets. Our project uses a holistic approach to solve communal challenges since it involves input from other stakeholders and development patrtners hence posing a long lasting and multi dimensional solution whose implementation is sustainable in terms of financial costs and time. Our project puts emphasis on mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. By integrating climate resilience into agricultural practices and enhancing productivity, this project aims to break the cycle of poverty in the rural smallholder farmers and refugee communities while safeguarding food security and promoting sustainable development.

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

The first target benegficiaries of our project are refugees from KYaka II refugee settlement majority of whom are women and children. These are characterized by subsistence farming usually on small land plots, predominantly cultivating staple crops. They face challenges including limited access to agricultural inputs and markets, vulnerability to climate impacts, and reliance on traditional gender roles. Demographically, they originate from diverse ethnic backgrounds and age groups from conflict-affected regions. Another target group are smallholder farmers and farmer groups in Kyegegwa District. These are characterized by small land holdings, subsistence farming of staple crops like maize and beans, limited access to agricultural inputs and markets, and vulnerability to climate variability. They typically have basic education levels, with traditional gender roles prevalent, and rely on community support systems.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-15

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

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

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

Sebyala Hamidu (Team Leader): Role: Leads overall project management, coordinates activities and general team operations. Profile: Established agribusiness expert with over 5 years expertise in the agribusiness field, capable of providing strategic direction, managing funds, and facilitating partnerships to achieve project goals. Mujungu Patrick (Extension & mobilisation): Role: Executes specific project activities like extension and mobilisation on the ground. Profile: Experienced field agronomist with direct engagement in the project's target community, possessing local knowledge, networks, and operational capacity crucial for effective implementation. Kyomuhendo Sheilah (Evaluation & advisory): Role: Provide specialized technical support & advisory services critical to project success. Also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the project implementation Profile: Seasoned consultant with niche expertise in agricultural rural development and project monitoring and evaluation.

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

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

Our project offers a comprehensive solution to the challenge of poverty in rural smallholder farmers and refugee communities in Kyegegwa district and Kyaka II refugee settlement by improving agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming practices through extension services. By equipping smallholder farmer households and refugee communities with high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and knowledge of modern agricultural techniques, they can increase crop yields, diversify their livelihoods, and access markets more effectively. This leads to higher incomes, greater food security, and resilience to climate change and market fluctuations.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Our project aims to provide small holder farmers and refugees with inputs that are climate-change resilient, targeted extension & training sessions and on-farm demonstrations which will equip rural smallholder farmers and refugee communities with the skills, resources, and support networks necessary to enhance agricultural productivity. Such intervention will inevitably improve their yield, therefore providing them with enough food to consume within their own households and also enough surplus to sell to other households within their communities. We also intend to train them about how to grow different crops with various nutritional values for household consumption. This will collectively provide their communities with food and nutritional security and also boost the resilience and prosperity of their communities.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Our project promotes emphasis on both the nutritional and financial wellbeing of the households of our target beneficiaries. By providing the farmers with knowledge and educaction about how they can improve their farming systems to incorporate better high nutrient value crops like legumes, fruits, vegetables and nuts, it ensures that the farmers whom majority are women with a distinctively emphatic gender role of looking after their families provide their people with better nutritious food. Also equipping them with knowledge and skills of how to better handle their produce after harvest to avoid conatmination and poisoning that comes from contaminated food can go along way in preventing food related diseases and nutritional disorders. Alternatively, engaging with other health inclined partners like Local government, NGOs and CSOs who are willing to intervene and provide solution towards disease prevention and treatment will also help these communities in the fight for good health.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Our project is entirely built upon educating and training rural smallholder farmers and refugees on better and innovative climate smart farming techniques and how they can effectively utilise the resources around them to harness the agricultural and market opportunities and better their livelihoods and communities. Our model involves teaching these farmers both female and male and of all age groups individually and collectively in farmer groups. Both formally and theoretically through workshops and practically through on farm demonstrations. We also intent to train and educate them on other life and business support disciplines like financial literacy, basic IT and how they can access and use the Internet of things to promote their agriculture and economic entities. By doing that, we will provide inclusive education and build their capacity to take on other education and learning opportunities.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The largest percentage of our target beneficiary groups are women and youth. 77% of the rural smallholder farmers are women with 55% of them being youth. According to a study by FAO, giving women the same access as men to agricultural resources could increase production on women’s farms in developing countries by 20 to 30 per cent, raising total farm output in poorer regions by 2.5 to 4 per cent. That could in turn reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12 to 17 per cent, or 100 to 150 million people. Since majority of our target beneficiaries are women, most of our interventions will be addressed to women. Studies also reveal that there has been less technology adoption by female headed households due to lower access to education and limited land size. Hence, putting emphasis on educating and training female farmers will go along way in improving their technology adoption and their productivity which will consequently narrow the gender equality gap in their communities.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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 main aim of our project is to enable rural smallholder farmers and refugees eradicate poverty amongst their households and communities using better farming as the eradication tool and equitable distribution of climate smart agro inputs and timely farmer training and extension as a catalyst. By addressing the root causes of poverty and fostering inclusive development, we champion the creation of a society where these rural farmers and refugees are more self-reliant and resilient. We believe that when women farmers are empowered to produce more and earn more, they can be able to decently take care of their families' essential needs especially their childrens' needs like shelter, food, healthcare and education. By providing agribusiness training to women and youth smallholder farmers and refugees which enables them to turn their low yield-low income into decent sustainable agribusiness ventures, we that will promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth among them.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Among the training we intend to provide to our farmers, are modules related to post harvest handling and primary processing as a means of value addition to both prolong the shelf life of their products but also improve the value of their produce and increase the price at which they can sell which means more income for them to earn. Post-harvest handling and primary processing are among the different technologies and knowledge we intend to train our farmers and refugees about. Studies show that about 37% of all the food produced in Sub Saharan Africa is wasted due to poor post-harvest and transportation handling. Introducing primary processing technologies like sundrying, smoking, pasting and grinding of fresh foods like nuts, matooke, cassava can help alleviate that challenge but also promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and promote innovation among the rural farmers and refugees.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

As a project that is entirely aimed at improving the socio-economic livelihood of small holder farmers and refugees, and enhancing their resilience to socio-economic shocks like climate effect, drought, disease outbreak and social instabilities, when properly implemented give their communities a chance to not only economically thrive and grow, but also reduces their reliance on aid, handouts and social amenities provision from outside sources. By empowering them to produce more and earn more, they can be able to cater for their own needs and also self reliantly cater for the needs of their communities. This provide them with an opportunity to engage in the money economy which improves their standards of living hence reducing the gap between their communities and other far developed communities like towns and cities.

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 project model aims to focus on improving the incomes of smallholder farmers and refugees through better agriculture and production. This consequently improves standards of living for their households, and being a teaching and learning model, it enables them to continously practice and build on what they have learnt to better their farming which promotes a more sustainable way of socio-economic transformation. When majority of the households in these communities accept and adopt these transformation methods, it promotes a collective transformation among the communities which can be sustainable because the building blocks of these societies which are the households are empowered by more knowledge and better income opportunities. All together, our project aims at making the smallholder farmer communities and refugee settlements safer, sustainable, more inclusive and resilient.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Among the skills and knowledge we intend to teach the smallholder farmers is the concept of sustainable agriculture which means designing farming systems that utilize resources efficiently and minimize environmental impact. Practices such as crop rotation, composting, and integrated pest management will be used to enhance soil health, reduce chemical inputs, and promote biodiversity. By adopting these practices, farmers can create more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. Innovations such as use of renewable energy like solar for irrigation can help farmers optimize resource use, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact too.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our project puts much emphasis on intense promotion of climate-smart agricultural inputs like quality seeds and planting materials of well-adapted crops and varieties and their last mile delivery to farmers in their rural communities to beat the challenge of inequitable distribution and logistical hurdles faced by the farmers. We also intend to train these farmers on climate resilient farming practices and technologies like planting basins, green manuring, conservation agriculture (rotations, intercropping, mulching and reduced tillage) and agroforestry that can counteract the climate change effects and further mitigate the risk posed to the environment and their incomes by climate change. The adoption of climate-smart agricultural inputs and farming methods will enhance agricultural resilience to extreme weather events, conserve natural resources, improve soil health, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods.

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

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

2

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

5

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.

6

05.08 Justification

The idea of supplying smallholder rural farmers and refugees in Kyegegwa district and Kyaka II refugee settlement camp with high-quality climate-smart farm inputs, alongside extensive on-farm extension and training, represents a distinct departure from conventional agro-input distribution methods. This approach is innovative because it includes last mile delivery to solve the equitable distribution challenge faced by farmers, integrates comprehensive training to enhance better agricultural practices adoption which in turn boosts production more, and specifically targets vulnerable populations. By doing so, it not only aims to boost agricultural productivity and resilience but also significantly improve the income and livelihoods of farmers. This holistic strategy has the potential to transform agriculture in the region by fostering sustainable practices and empowering marginalized communities economically.

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

Our main competitors are the ordinary convetional agro input dealers and stockists operating in Kyegegwa district and around Kyaka II refugee settlement camp. we stand out from our competition because of our unique value proposition which not only focuses on selling agro inputs with a profit mark up but also involves further supporting the farmers with a last mile delivery system and network and comprehensive on-farm extension and training which enhances better agricultural practices and technology adoption which in turn boosts their farm production more and increases their farm incomes. This model not only focuses on profit making but also solves the most fundamental challenges faced by rural small holder farmers which include inequitable access to and distribution of climate-smart agro inputs and lack of knowledge and training on better agricultural practices and technologies that can enable them improve their farm productivity and farm incomes.

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