Tanzania - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We provide quality sunflower seeds and services to smallholder farmers to increase the domestic production of edible oils in Tanzania.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Heshima Seeds was founded to bridge the gap between supply and demand for quality sunflower seeds in Tanzania. First, we engage with local sunflower oil mills to determine their estimated demand for sunflower grains. Working backwards, we estimate the amount of farmland and seed that will be needed to meet their demand. Second, we connect farmers with the oil mills and then provide those farmers with quality seeds and agronomic training. This creates stability in the market and provides farmers with a market for their products.

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

Tanzania is reliant on imported edible oils to meet domestic demand. A global shortage has led to increased prices, and Tanzania has seen the price of a liter of edible oil double in recent years. The government has taken steps to increase domestic production and achieve self-sufficiency with a strategic focus on sunflowers. While there are numerous large and small edible oil factories, sufficient farmland, and willing farmers, the certified seed remains a bottleneck. According to FAOSTAT, there are are more than 1 million hectares of sunflower grown in Tanzania. Each hectare requires 5 kilograms of seed, and we estimate yearly demand to exceed 5,000 tons of seed. However, the African Seed Access Index estimated that only 650 tons of certified sunflower seed was available in the market. Farm-saved seed makes up the remainder, but is produced without adequate quality controls or proper storage and which correspondingly has poor germination.

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

1. High-quality seeds improve germination, ensuring that a larger part of the field contains productive individuals. Better quality also means less off-type variants, who produce less on average. And, better seeds means an increase in overall yield per plant. Taken together, the farmer harvests more from their field and increases their profits. 2. By working directly with oil mills, farmers are linked to an end market for their product. This way, they have peace of mind when investing in their field and better market information for selling their harvest. 3. By providing training, farmers can employ best practices in their fields, which will improve yields and the efficiency of their farms.

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

Our products and services are tailored to fit the needs of smallholder farmers. In particular, our research trials focus on the exact conditions experienced by the average Tanzanian farmer in Central Tanzania. In addition, we engage with edible oil mills to help them improve the production of the farmers who supply them with sunflower grains.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-05-22

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

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.)

Hillary Bett holds a BA in Psychology from the United States International University and has five years of experience with East African startups, including tech companies in Uganda and Tanzania. In her previous role as Office Manager, she developed operational, financial, and inventory management systems for a brand new automotive repair company. Sara Shoff hold an MBA from Yale, is a former Peace Corps volunteer, has 8 years of experience in private-sector finance, and an additional six years of experience in African agriculture and agriculture finance. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer of Provenance Capital Group, she built financial and operational systems for the regenerative agriculture finance start-up.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/company/heshima-seeds-limited/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

We believe in improving incomes for smallholder farmers by improving their yields and their bargaining power in the sunflower grain marketplace.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

We produce high quality seeds that are used by farmers and which will ultimately contribute to Tanzania's national food security.

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

3

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We train farmers in sunflower agronomy and

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our program emphasizes equality and aims to train both men and women in sunflower agronomy.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

Our philosophy is to provide respect to the farmer. With high-quality seeds and agronomy training, we can ensure that farmers are able to reliably produce sunflowers on their farms and contribute to rural economic growth.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

By reducing Tanzania's importation of edible oils, we directly reduce deforestation caused by the main edible oil import: palm oil. We also thus reduce the amount of edible oil that needs to be transported to Tanzania. Sunflower is also a drought-resistant crop, making it a viable alternative crop during dry years.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

5

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.

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.

3

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Sunflowers are grown on 1 million hectares of farmland in Tanzania. Farmers frequently used saved seeds, but desire access to high-quality seeds and improved seed varieties. We innovate by providing farmers with a training service and connecting them to markets for their harvest. This expands on the current system, whereby farmers do not receive agronomic training and are reliant on middlemen to get their product to oil mills.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

We have two kinds of competitors: local seed companies and multinationals. Local seed companies multiply parent seed provided by the Tanzanian public sector and primarily sell an Open Pollinated Variety called Record. Multinationals import hybrid seeds developed under their own proprietary research programs and primarily sell their products to people who can afford the high cost. We stand out from local companies with our focus on research and we stand out from multinationals with our explicit focus on the needs of smallholder farmers.

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

Yes, by advocating for a female majority on the Board of our company, by having a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination in the workplace, by encouraging diversity when recruiting for new positions, and by being supportive of female sunflower farmers.