Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Sessay farms and trading is 60 - acre plot with fertile soil and adequate water supply in Nindor-waala, in the Jirapa District of Upper west Region. Established to showcase sustainable agricultural practices and produce high-quality organic crops.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Sessay farms and trading is a farming business located in the Upper West Region. It's objective is to establish a model farm that showcases sustainable agricultural practices and produce high-quality organic crops and supports local food systems. We cultivate a diverse range of crops, precisely grains (rice and corn), legumes (beans, soybeans and cowpea), tubers (yam and cassava). We are interested in using holistic approach to manage pests and diseases, minimizing chemical use. Sustainability features are; 1. Renewable energy: Installation of solar panels to power farm operations 2. Conservation Tillage: implementing reduced-tillage farming to minimize soil erosion and promote soil health. 3. Integrated Pest Management. Goals are; 1. To produce high-quality, organic crops and products. 2. To achieve economic viability and sustainability. 3. To support local food systems and community development. 4. To serve a model for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

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

1. Food security : ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of fresh produce to meet the demands of our growing population 2. Sustainable Food Production: establish a sustainable farming system that produces high-quality crops while minimizing environmental impact and promoting ecological balance. 3. Economic viability: Developing a profitable and sustainable farming model that supports local economies and provides a viable livelihood for local farmers and agricultural workers. 4 Environmental stewardship: Mitigating the negative effects of conventional farming practices on soil, water and biodiversity, while promoting ecosystem services and carbon sequestration.

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

The benefits and advantages are; 1. Reduced Chemical Use: Our organic and integrated pest management approaches minimizes harmful chemical usage, promoting eco-friendly farming practices. 2. Enhanced Food Security: By increasing local produce and reducing post harvest losses, our project contributes food availability and accessibility. 3. Improved Market Access: Our project also connects smallholder farmers with lucrative markets, ensuring fair prices and stable income. 4. Climate Resilience: Our sustainable practices helps farmers adapt to climate change, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity community resilience.

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

As a farmer, my targeted beneficiaries are as follows; 1. Local Consumers: People in my surrounding communities who purchase cowpea for household consumption, either fresh or processed into various products like beans, flour or snacks. 2. Food Processors: Companies or individuals who buy cowpea in bulk to process into value-added products like canned goods, frozen foods or animal feed. 3. Animal Feed Manufacturers: Cowpea is a nutritious ingredient in animal feed, making my produce a valuable input for this industry. 4. Local Markets and Traders: Market stalls, street vendors and traders who buy my buy my produce to resell in smaller quantities to consumers. Middlemen also purchase in bulk and resell to retailers, processors or exporters. 5. Food assistance Programs: Government initiatives or NGOs that provide food aid to vulnerable populations, such as school feeding programs or emergency food relief.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-11-08

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

There are no other owners

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

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

As a farmer, my startup contribute to the SDG goal "No Poverty" in several ways: 1. Job Creation: My farm provides employment opportunities for local people, both directly and indirectly, helping to reduce unemployment and poverty. 2. Income Generation: By selling my produce, I generate income for myself and my family, enabling us to meet basic needs and improve our living standards. 3. Food Security: Cowpea is a nutritious food source and by producing it, I help ensure access to healthy food for local communities, reducing poverty-related malnutrition. 4. Empowerment of Smallholder Farmers: as a smallholder farmer, I can share knowledge, skills and best practices with fellow farmers, helping them improve their productivity and income. 5. Rural Development: My startup helps maintain rural livelihoods, preventing urban migration and preserving community cohesion.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

As a farmer, my startup contributes to this SDG goal in several way: 1. Increased Food Availability: By producing leguminous crops and grains, that are nutritious and protein-rich. My startup contribute to increasing the availability of healthy food for local communities. 2. Enhanced Food Security: By promoting sustainable agricultural practices, my startup helps maintain soil health, conserve water and reduce crop losses, ensuring a stable food supply. 3. Improved Food Access: My startup helps ensure that people have access to nutritious food, particularly vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women and the elderly.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

My startup contributes to this SDG goal (SDG 3) in several ways; 1. Addressing Malnutrition: My startup produces nutrient-dense food, it helps combat malnutrition, stunting and wasting in children and micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations. 2. Supporting Maternal and Child Health: Cowpea is an excellent source of iron, folate and other essential nutrients crucial for maternal and child health, helping to prevent birth defects and anemia. 3. Reducing Chemical Use: By adopting sustainable farming practices, my startup minimizes the use of harmful chemicals, protecting consumers' health and the environment.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

My startup contributes to this SDG goal in several ways; 1. Supporting Local School: My startup can partner with nearby schools to provide fresh produce for school meals, promoting nutrition and health among students. 2. Vocational Training: My startup can offer training and apprenticeships for young people, equipping them with practical farming skills, entrepreneurship skills and business management.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My startup contribute to this SDG goal in some ways; 1. Empowering Women Farmers: My startup can provide training, resources and support specifically for women farmers, enabling them to increase their productivity and income. 2. Gender-Balanced Workforce: My startup fosters a gender-balanced workforce on my farm which provides equal opportunities for men and women to work and lead. 3. Promoting Women's Leadership: My startup encourages and supports women to take leadership roles in agricultural and other industrious sectors as I will serve as a role model to them.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

My startup contributes to this SDG goal in several ways: 1. Job Creation: My startup provides stable and decent employment opportunities for local people, directly and indirectly through farming operations and related activities. 2. Fair Labour Practices: my startup ensures fair labour practices, including fair wages, safe working conditions and social protection for all employees. 3. Entrepreneurship Opportunities: we will offer training and support for young entrepreneurs, enabling them to start their own agricultural businesses and contribute to local economic growth.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

6

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

6

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Here are some points that justify the uniqueness and innovation of my startup. 1. Specialty Varieties: My startup grows unique, disease-resistant and climate-resilient cowpea varieties that are not commonly found in the market. 2. Organic and Regenerative Farming Practices: My startup uses sustainable methods that prioritize soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem services, setting my produce apart from conventionally grown cowpeas. 3. High-quality Processing: My startup implements advanced processing techniques such as sorting, grading and packaging, to ensure consistency and quality in every batch. 4. Consumer Engagement: My startup offers workshops, recipes and resources to educate consumers about the benefits and versatility of cowpeas. 5. Seed Preservation and Development: My startup works to preserve heirloom cowpea varieties and develop new ones, contributing to genetic diversity and adaptation.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

My main potential competitors may include; 1. Other local Cowpea farmers: Those operating in the same region, targeting similar markets. 2. Large Scale Commercial Farmers: Industrial-scale farms with economies of scale established supply chains. 3. Importers and Distributors: Companies importing cowpeas from other regions or countries. What makes my startup stand out from these competitors are; 1. Specialty Varieties: My startup grows unique, disease-resistant and climate-resilient cowpea varieties that are not commonly found in the market. 2. Organic and Regenerative Farming Practices: My startup uses sustainable methods that prioritize soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem services, setting my produce apart from conventionally grown cowpeas. 3. Direct Sales and Relationships: My startup builds strong connections with costumers through direct sales, farmer's markets or community-supported agriculture programs. 4. Collaboration and Partnerships with restaurants, local chefs etc.

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