Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Poultry-fish-banana is an environmentally friendly and sustainable integrated farming system but many farmers lack practical knowledge about it. Therefore this project will enable several farmers in the community to get the practical skills in this system

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Integrated farming is sustainable and environmentally friendly system due to its ability to; utilize agricultural wastes/ by-products (Behera and France, 2016). It's also a system where you can maximize profits in a small space and with little investment. However, many farmers lack practical knowledge about this venture making it hard for them to adopt and practice it on their farms. Therefore this project will provide a learning site where farmers in the community and the region will acquire the knowledge and skills in order to maximize their farm productivity while protecting the environment. We will start with setting up; poultry-fish-banana system since wastes from poultry houses and banana peelings have been poorly utilized as well as the utilization of farm space taken up by banana plantations. The project will also involve creating online platforms to share the skills and knowledge in order to impact as many farmers as possible hence supporting sustainable food production

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

Lack of practical knowledge and skills about integrated farming is major cause of low adoption and implementation of the sustainable and environmentally safe system among farmers today. High percentage of farmers do not utilize poultry waste because they lack the knowledge of how to use them (Shahadat et al., 2015). This also applies to the other agricultural wastes, which therefore poses environment threat as the agriculture production increases every year in order to support the growing population. This project aims at equipping farmers with knowledge and skills so as to utilize their farm wastes, farm space and maximize profits. The project will also provide farm supports and guidance to farmers who are interested/implementing integrated farming systems in order to help them improve their farm productivity. The project will achieve this through setting up a demo-integrated farm for physical practical learning and also share information and knowledge via social media.

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

The following are the benefits our project services will provide; 1. Educate, skill and build capacity of farmers on integrated farming systems especially poultry-fish-banana system. This will enable them adopt and practice the skills at their farms hence maximizing their productivity. 2. Provide on-farm support and guidance to the farmers in the community that want to implement the integrated farming systems. These activities will also be recorded and shared online so as to reach several farmers with similar interests. 3. Supply the demo-farm produced seeds (banana suckers, fingerlings, chicks) with farmers that have the interests in integrated farming in the community. 4. Contribute significantly to the safe and sustainable food production approach to farming in the communities and across the globe.

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

The target beneficiaries of the project include; - local farmers - people intending to start farming businesses - students that want to expound their knowledge and skills in integrated farming - farmers already engaging integrated farming approach on their farms - people interested in learning the integrated farming skills

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-05

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.)

1. Wokorach Justine; he is a fish farmer with about 10 years of experience. He also has some knowledge on integrated farming systems. Justine has larger land space which he is ready to dedicate a portion of it for the project. 2. Anena Concy; she is also a farmer with banana plantation that is about 5 years in existence. She is a farmers' group leader with experience of working with the community. She also has some knowledge about integrated farming system but lacking skills on the implementation.

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

The project deals with production of agricultural products for sale and home consumption. Therefore, the project strongly contributes to the goal of No poverty. The beneficiaries will acquire more knowledge and skills of maximizing their farm productivity and profitability hence solving a lot of their poverty related challenges.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Being an agricultural project directly dealing in food production, it also makes the project to strongly contribute to the goal of Zero hunger. As the participants increase their farm production, they will also have the capacity to feed their families, the community and the whole world with what they produce.

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

The quality of the food we eat contribute significantly to our health conditions. Integrated farming is a safe and sustainable food production system hence working hard towards achieving the goal of Good health and well being. The farming system also promotes utilization of agricultural waste therefore contributing in keeping the farm and community cleans.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The project will use a curriculum guided approach to train participants with adequate practical demonstrations. This enables the farmers to attain quality farming knowledge hence contributing strongly to the goal of Quality education. The knowledge and skills acquired by the participants will also enable them raise enough money to pay their children's school fees in good schools hence contributing to the same goal.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The project strongly supports gender equality and inclusiveness. Everybody will be included with special consideration of marginalized group (women) so as to benefit from the capacity building and economic empowerment. This will enable them to also have a voice in the community and contribute to the family welfare.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

The project deals with safe and environmentally friendly farming system. This means there will be proper usage/re-use of resources like; water therefore maintaining clean drainage from the farms. Good sanitation is also implemented as the wastes are being utilized and farm space also properly planned and utilized. This enables the project to significantly contribute to the goal of Clean water and sanitation.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The main clean energy that can be generated from the agricultural initiative is biogas which comes from animal wastes. And those are some of the skills the project will equip participants with. The project also prioritizes use of energy from clean sources for example; solar panels, and hydroelectricity so as to contribute and support the goal of Affordable and clean energy.

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 aims at supporting farmers to maximize their earnings from through agricultural production by adopting a low investment, high profit farming system which is a very decent farming approach therefore contributing strongly to the goal of decent work and economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

The integrated farming system that the project is promoting is not a very new system however, it hasn't been adopted and utilized by many farmers mainly because of lack of the skills and knowledge. Therefore to some extend, the project contribute to the goal of agricultural Industry innovation and infrastructure.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

The project will treat every participants the same way without crediting any group more than the rest. This gives equal opportunity for everyone to be in position to participate and benefit from the project. And also implementation of the skills to maximize farm production is not affected by gender, religion, and any other kind of social affiliations. Therefore, the project significantly contributes to the goal of reduced inequalities.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The project deals with safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly farming system. This means there will be proper usage/re-use of resources and the agricultural wastes produced at he farm therefore maintaining sustainable cities and communities. This enables the project to significantly contribute to the goal of Sustainable cities and communities.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Being an agricultural project directly dealing in food production, it also makes the project to strongly contribute to the goal of Responsible consumption and production. The project will build the capacity of the participants and enable them increase their farm production, they will also have the capacity to feed their families, the community and the whole world with what they produce.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The project includes; planting bananas which help in reducing carbon from the atmosphere. By utilizing of agricultural wastes, it also means little amount of carbon sources are being wasted into the environment. Therefore the project contributes significantly to the goal of Climate action.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Fish farming is part of the project focus, and it directly support and maintain quality life for the organisms living underwater (mainly fish). Proper management of the water quality also means that the effluents that come from the fish farms will also be treated so as to also not significantly affect the aquatic life downstream and around the community.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

The project also focuses on chicken rearing and banana plantation which are definitely life on land. And the quality of their production therefore the project strongly contribute to the goal of Life on land.

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

This project plays a big role in strengthening partnerships for sustainable development through involving the local communities, scholars, government agencies, private entities and policy makers during it's implementation.

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

4

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

2

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

2

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

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 integrated farming system which is the main focus of this project is not a completely new initiative but modification and promotion of an already existing one. However much several farmers are still ignorant about it, and need to be introduced to it.

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

My main potential competitors are; large scale chicken producers, fish farmers, farmers with large banana plantations. But we have a competitive advantage over them because we are maximizing our production within the limited space. Our project promotes utilization of wastes which means we are carrying out safe and sustainable farming.

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

Not yet