Zimbabwe - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Championing prosperity among young farmers through establishing sustainable agriculture business throughout the agriculture value chain.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Zimbabwe Young Farmers is a company formed to assist Young Farmers build sustainable businesses within the agriculture value chain. We assist with technical training, access to markets, crop identification and access to finance. Our goal is to set up at least one sustainable agriculture business in every one of almost 2,000 wards in Zimbabwe.

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

Young people are failing to set up profitable, sustainable businesses that sustain their livelihoods. The further cause of this are further broken down a follows: Access to information and training Young Farmers are not aware what profitable crops to grow and where the markets are. Further, young farmers lack the technical training to grow the said crops. Access to capital Young farmers have no capital to fund their projects. Further they have no collateral to access finance from financial institutions. Access to markets Farmers are unable to sell their produce for one or more of the following reasons: They do not know where the buyers are They do not have the logistical capabilities to take produce from farm to consumers They do not meet the minimum quantity required to either move produce profitably, or secure contracts with buyers who require agriculture produce.

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

Access to information and training Farmers have access to the following information through our ward management teams: The list of profitable products to grow with ready off-takers Information about assistance from government and NGOs who provide assistance to farmers. Farmers can access training on: Technical aspects of growing various crops Business training on how to run their projects as proper sustainable businesses that includes Financial training Keeping books Human resources management Etc 2. Access to capital Based on our training and supervision, we can guarantee better performance to financial institutions on their loans to our members. 3. Access to markets The organization constantly looks out for offtakers looking to buy agriculture products and arranges contracts on behalf of it's members. The organization will arrange the youth into other value addition business that will consume agric produce and further add value in things like cooking oil manufacture

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

Targeted beneficiaries are all young people in Zimbabwe who wish to set up profitable agriculture businesses in Zimbabwe

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-01-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

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

Dr Joseph Kakoto Visionary leader with extensive experience moblising farmers all over Zimbabwe. He has worked with various NGOs and Government Departments Elvis Elverton Talent specialist in mushroom production Audrey Muchemwa Recent graduation in agriculture production who's talented in setting up agriculture businesses Mollyn Dikinya Passionate agriculture entrepreneur running several agriculture ventures

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

Empowers all our members to run successful agriculture businesses that will not only earn them a living, but also create employment within their communities

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Income creation as in 02.01.02 above. The company contributes to no hunger by allowing beneficiaries to afford food Being an Agriculture start up, our company produces food not just for the members but all consumers

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

Better wellbeing will come from more disposable income available to our members. Further better nutrition will support better health

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Our organization provides hands on training on running agricultural products. The kind of leaning they get directly contributes to better livelihoods

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Although the company has no explicit gender policies that target women, it is not descriminatory in all operations. We believe that their ecomic will add to their equality because when they have an income, they have a voice within the household set up

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

Part of the financing negotiated from financers will go towards setting up irrigation systems that will boost availability of clean water.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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

Farmers are being trained to become owners of their means of production and generate livelihoods from agriculture businesses. Further they will create employment not only on their operations but in the entire value chain as their produce is processed

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

The set up of this agribusiness network, together with it's online platforms, websites and app represent critical infrastructure development that can further be built up on

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Creating a source of income for previously unemployed youth will contribute towards reduced inequality within the country. The expected growth in GDP and quality of life will go towards reducing inequality with other southern African countries

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

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

One

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

Farming methods trained to farmers are fully compliant.

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

4

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.

5

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

5

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

6

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.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

Whilst individual aspects of the agriculture value chain management are available, ours ithe first that holistically covers financial, technical, government and legal, and many other aspects of creating an enabling environment for young farmers in Zimbabwe

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Existing agriculture contract management companies

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

Or organisation encourages female participation in all levels of management