Zimbabwe - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Makora Peanut Butter seeks to promote groundnuts value addition in Makora and nearby communities where every 9 in 10 women are groundnut producers. This ensures availability and accessibility of a fair market including socio-economic and development.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Villa Farm Enterprise (Villafarme) is a trade name established under Creliance Business Incorporation, a private owned company I established in Zimbabwe. Villafarme is composed of 3 multi-linked projects; Makora Peanut Butter, GD Honey Global and Crop/Livestock Production. We envision enhanced rural livelihoods through sustainable food systems and sovereignty. Our mission is to ensure food and nutrition security and climate smart agriculture for socio-economic development through building a community of empowered, collaborative and resilient farmers. It through Makora Peanut Butter project whereby we seek to participate in this challenge.

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

Agriculture is a prominent source of socio-economic growth and nutrition security in Zimbabwe. The majority are small scale famers populated in rural communities and women play a significant role in the production of cash crops such as groundnuts (9 in 10 women).The effects of climate change and poor soils are also encouraging leguminous crops like groundnuts and the growing of drought resistant varieties as a resilience coping strategy. The targeted communities are very remote and disconnected due to poor transport routes. Groundnut producers face challenges in market accessibility, post harvest loses and lack of better techniques and knowledge to encourage groundnuts value- addition. Therefore, the project seeks to strengthen the role of women in groundnuts supply-chain, curb unemployment and poverty by creating green jobs especially for young girls and women. It also seeks to promote girl-child education, vocational training, self-reliance opportunities and biodiversity conservatio

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

Economic development through employment creation and income generation through groundnuts sales; Climate smart agriculture which promote nutritious food production, climate mitigation and adaptation. Enhancement of livelihoods through vocational training and capacity buildings. By using our services, you will also promote girl-child education including sanitary needs of women as well as promoting biodiversity conservation.

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

Makora Peanut Butter prioritises households in Makora as our top consumers. Usually after groundnut harvesting, over 80% yield quantity is sold for income generation. Rarely children are provided with peanut butter meal(s) because consumption is not a priority. Since the peanut butter is locally produced, the price will be affordable thus making sure that at least 9 in 10 households consume peanut butter, and every lactating and/ pregnant woman or caregiver of infants 6 years and below can prepare a peanut butter meal at least once a day. Our target also includes local academic boarding institutions such as All Souls High, Mutoko High, Nyamuzuwe High, Nyadire High and Nyadire Teachers College, Dendera High including local health facilities. We also target local retailers, and urban/peri-urban consumers. Our services also target rural farmers and youths, including the earth.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-08-23

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

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.)

Lawrence Makaure is a passionate development practitioner with 4 years working experience. He has experience in community envelopment work, facilitating training for enterprise development and Internal Savings and Lending Schemes in rural and peri-urban communities.He is highly interested in business trade, environmental conservation and agripreneurship. Courage Kusemwa (born and raised in Mutoko rural) is also a development practitioner with 2 years work experience. He has been involved in Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, livelihood strengthening, community mobilization, health behavior change programs and youth positive development. Also equipped with implementation, program monitoring and evaluation for the USAID and UNFPA related projects

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

https://villafarme.com/

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

Through green employment where local community especially women and young people will be employed as full-time, contract or seasonal workers. They will be involved in groundnut farming, harvesting, processing, packaging, marketing and distribution. Villafarme will ensure fair wages which therefore can improve the income and enable them to meet various household needs. In the first phase, 20 people will be employed, and the number will be expected to double in the second and third phase. Also we partner and support local farmers through training on sustainable growing and skills building. Currently we have 6 groups of 5 women in groundnut farming, and the number is also expected to increase. This will ensure good yields and our reliable market with just prices promote income generation to suppliers. Financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs will also be installed to promote self-reliance.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Sourcing groundnuts locally reduces production cost thus we can set an affordable price for our products. This ensures that even the least family can be able to afford peanut butter. Groundnuts is regarded as a cash crop in Makora community and across the Southern region as a whole, consumption is a second priority after income generation whereby about 80% yield is sold, 15% is preserved as retained seeds for the next farming season and at most 5% is saved for consumption. Affordability and availability promote food consumption since peanut butter can be added to various daily meals. The income generated through selling groundnuts can also help farmers to support other farming needs such as buying agricultural inputs. Groundnut is a leguminous crop that can also be intercropped with grass crops like maize and its soil health enhancement promote crop rotation; therefore our training programs will recommend such sustainable farming practices, thus contributing to zero hunger.

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

Groundnut value added products such as peanut butter are highly nutritious foods rich in protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Our product affordability promotes healthy diets whereby we want to ensure that at least every household consumes a peanut butter meal at least once a day. However, good production processed ensures high quality products; we achieve this through promoting organic growing, good storage practices to minimise afflatoxin contamination which a potential to compromise food safety. Educational programs and health workshops will also be conducted to equip the community especially women on hygiene and nutritional benefits of peanut butter and how to prepare peanut butter recipes. We also seek to partner with schools, Ministry of Health and interested organisations to install school feeding programs and supplementary feeds for infants, pregnant and lactating women.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Like any other families in Makora rural community, my mother is also a groundnuts farmer. In 2019 it was really difficult to raise my tuition fees for my final semester in university, fortunately my mother had stored some groundnuts which we then sold and the money was used to pay my fees. If we managed to pay my tuition fee with groundnuts, then the same can also assist other girls to peruse their academic studies. At Villafarme, a certain percent from every sale is contributed towards the education of a girl child. School feeding programs will also reduce school absenteeism due to hunger. We are also committed to lifelong learning opportunities through vocational trainings to adults and school dropouts. One of the most reasons why absenteeism is high (at least 7 in 10 students) at my former primary school (Makora) is due to lack of education service support like school fees and stationery. A consistent groundnut market can decrease school dropout and/ absenteeism.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

In my whole Ward, groundnuts production is regarded as a women activity, regardless of age and marital status. However, these rural women are not considered in setting marketing prices or in product formulation and seed varieties yet they the key primary producers. And usually men go to the market where they end up dictating how to use the money. This project seeks also to strengthen the role of women in groundnut value supply chain and economic empowerment through; employment creation where our first phase will be constituted of at least 75% women; self-reliance opportunities in poultry (currently a group of 5women is doing broiler production), organic gardening and baking. Through Rural S/he Connect, we support young girls through sanitation needs, education and mentorship thus reducing and/ eliminating early marriages and pregnancies which is prevalent in Makora community. This builds a community where women and girls can thrive and support their household and community livelihoods.

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

Mutoko and Makora community is located in Agricultural region 4 where water is very scarce and still the need to fight against hunger and poverty is also a priority. Our sustainable agricultural practices priorities water conservation through water harvesting techniques and protecting water sources. We have also contributed towards the drilling of a household borehole (still looking for support to install the solar pump system). This will ensure drinking water availability to nearby households as well as setting up a nutritious garden. In the long run, we look forward to partner with interested partners so as to install at least 5 solar powered boreholes to provide water for gardening, household needs and livestock production. Hygiene Education will also be conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders, so as to promote good sanitation practices.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Villafarme is a green business committed to promote sustainable energy use. Although we current have a 3Phase Alternator driven diesel generator to power all our industrial machines, we are also looking for opportunities to invest in modern machines which can consume low energy and can be supported by renewable energy sources like solar system. In efforts to promote environmental conservation, we are also looking forward to partner with interested organisations and companies so as to promote the use of clean cook stoves that use less fuel and emit fewer emissions as compared to traditional cooking methods. We also dedicated to employ education and awareness programs to promote just transition to cleaner and/ renewable energy sources.

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

It is no doubt that Villafarme contributes by creating jobs through employing at least 90% people from within the community in which we operate. We are also committed to prioritise the safe and health of all our workers, and fair wages so that every worker affords to meet at least basic household needs. By partnering with local farmers, we establish a sustainable market that offers a stable income through selling their produce. Economically, we also empower producers and employees to employ saving programs and cooperatives to build their economic resilience. It is also our hope to partner with financial institutions to facilitate the availability and accessibility of credits for potential entrepreneurs and farmers. Our market will also be targeting consumers beyond our national borders so as to increase our revenue as well as investors and/ partners.

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 project seeks to establish sustainable manufacturing facilities to promote groundnut value addition in Makora rural community. We will also invest in the development of new peanut butter products with various flavors and health oriented varieties. From growing to packaging we always employ ways that seek to promote planetary health. Since we are already in the digital era, soon will be launching our online store called EcoBasMart and Google analytics will be used for customer engagements. Farmers and employees will also be equipped with technical skills to enhance knowledge in production processes. We also look forward to establish a Green Hub Centre where the community will use the internet to access relevant information, apply for grants and/ funding opportunities and sources to charge their mobile phones. The hub will also provide remittance services and offering various workshops and courses to participants especially young people.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

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

There is rapid growth of urban population especially in Harare where the influx is mainly contributed by rural to urban migration. Makora rural community is a remote area with scarce economic socio-economic activities except for farming during the rainy season. Young people usually migrate to the city in search of jobs and start various hustles. This has promoted overcrowding especially in high density suburbs and the development of slums in Harare among other cities. By establishing multi-agribusinesses through Villa Farm Enterprise, we hope to create sustainable communities through career and business opportunities in rural areas. This reduces rural to urban migration thus also reducing pressure on services like housing, water and sanitation. We will also establish green spaces in Makora where young people can engage and interact. Enhancing economic development in Makora will also enable people to afford better housing constructions.

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

Our ambition to setup initiatives that foster both socio-economic and ecological development requires us to employ practices that promote the conservation of resources. Agriculture and its associated production processes utilise at least 70% of all freshwater, we are committed to water and energy use efficiency. By sourcing groundnuts locally, we shorten the supply chain thus reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation. Employing organic farming promotes soil health and conservation. We also promote circular economy by recycling and re-using waste material, for instance groundnuts shells will be used to formulate livestock feeds and can also be added in the soil to promote water harvesting techniques. We will also adopt minimal packaging that uses few materials and reusable containers. We also educate consumers on ways to minimise food wastage and/ loss as well as promoting local purchases.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Our motto is to promote both people’s and planetary health. We join the rest of the world in limiting the increase of greenhouse gas emissions thus achieving net-zero emissions (the Paris Agreement). Our advocacy work will also make efforts to support the implementation and/ adoption of our Nationally Determined Goals (NCDs), including being part of the Biodiversity Plan. We achieve this through taking action in setting up workshops and training to equip farmers with climate-smart practices; formulating disaster preparedness plan to increase resilience in the face of droughts including strategies to reduce negative copping strategies; implementing energy and water conservation strategies and effective waste management.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Although Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, it is very significant to note that over 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. The runoff in Makora adds to national rivers which empty in oceans. Marine pollution is as a result of land based activities such as agriculture and plastic which end up destroying marine ecosystem and disrupting the livelihoods of dependent people. To contribute towards this goal, we are practicing organic farming that eliminates the use of herbicides, pesticides and any form of chemicals that will end up onto oceans through leaching. We are also committed to efforts to eliminate the use of plastics especially during packaging. We also educate communities on the consequences of plastic pollution to life below water. Proper strategies such as waste segregation, reusing and recycling will be employed to deal with the least plastic usage in our facility or within the communities in which we operate.

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

Humans including our business activities depend on the earth for sustenance and livelihoods. Plant life provides 80% of the human diet and forests provide crucial habitats for numerous species and besides being important sources of clean air and water, they act as carbon sinks thus combating climate change. WE commit to initiatives that combat desertification through land restoration and practicing sustainable farming. We also established another initiative called GD Honey Global which seeks to promote tree planting and improve bees population while enhancing socio-economic development. Currently we have a total of 14 bee hives installed in a village in Murehwa district. This also promotes food and water security, climate change mitigation and adaptation. Clean cook stoves will also be distributed to communities as a method to reduce deforestation for firewood.

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

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

Sustainable development cannot be achieved in the absence of peace, justice and stability as well as respect for the rights of the next person. Villafarme indirectly promote this goal by promoting the dignity of human person through ensuring basic human rights needs such as clean water, health and food, especially to the marginalised and poor people. I also believe that when households are financially and socially secure, peace will prevail. Water scarcity or limited resources promote community conflicts as the scrabble for limited resources increases. Also, one of our core values is transparency so as to promote just processes and accountability. And when it comes to any activity that involves the local community, we ensure equitable, diverse and inclusive participation in decision making. This also promotes cooperation and good relations with the local people and all involved stakeholders.

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

Collaboration and partnership for the goals is also at the center of Villafarme. Our mission and existence can be more meaningful when we also involve other parties along various stages of the value addition. Besides partnering with local farmers and the communities, we are looking forward to partner with the Ministry of Health, community based organisations, financial institutions among other interested non-governmental organisations, private companies, academics, individual investors and start-ups established by young people. This enhances expertise and knowledge sharing and capacity building towards achieving our vision.

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.

2

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

3

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

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.

6

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

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

Makora Peanut Butter is very unique due to its community centered approach. It is to provide market to the local produce and because it is established within Makora community, groundnuts are sourced directly from the local producers, thus promoting fair and just trading. Unlike any other projects, we are committed to socio-economic and ecological development. It is one of its kinds that seek to promote the role of women in groundnut supply chain. Its activities are inclined towards promoting a One Health Approach, unlike other projects which are established for profit making only. Being established by a young girl from the same rural community is also another unique story to tell the world that an empowered girl child can yield ripple effects for the community and the nation at large. I believe this project can be a model of a sustainable business in the peanut butter manufacturing. Its effort to invest in naturally peanut butter flavors in glass containers also portrays innovates.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Currently our main competitors are large national brands such as National Foods, Mamas butter to mention a few. This is because they have been in the industry for years; they also have an outgrown distribution network as well as brand recognition. However such brands often use non-organic additives and ingredients and are usually are not flexible in terms of quantity and consumers have to go to the supermarkets to get the butter while our brand can even deliver at the door step. Other competitors are small scale processors who are located in the Rural District Center, where they now have a wide customer base, however Makora Peanut Butter can overpower all these competitors since they rely from sales from third parties while our business project source and manufacture locally.

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

Rural S/he Connect is a initiative I established in my rural community. It is a platform where I identify and nurture academically talented children (especially young girls) as well as assisting with seeking education support. The initiative also seeks to improve the sanitary needs of women as well as enhancing their livelihoods. I had 2 groups of 5 women each, running broiler projects , unfortunately one failed due to insufficient support. Only one still exist to this day. I also management to implement 2 workshops in partnership with Women Affairs - this was to promote Economic transformation and all the 93 women participated, they supported the idea of groundnuts value addition since it is a women-regarded cash crop. I also won the 2023 Pope Francis Youth Award for Faith and Social Transformation in Zimbabwe, the award is promoting self-reliance opportunities to young girls and women through baking and poultry production, and equipping participants with entrepreneurial skills.