Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

TROKA app provides a technology-enabled farming equipment, including tractors, Enhanced seedlings, and free advise/mentorship to small holder farmers while they pay 50% of the total cost in cash and the remaining 50% with their produce after harvest.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

TROKA app provides a technology-enabled farming equipment, including tractors, small hand-held machines, and harvesting machinery, to optimize farming practices. we will offer a unique payment model, where farmers pay 50% of the total cost in cash and the remaining 50% with their produce after harvest. This is a user-friendly mobile application will serve as the central hub for farmers to access their services, allowing farmers input their details. On the app, we company will provide free consultation and advice to all registered farmers, offering insights and solutions to enhance their farming practices. Another great feature is the SMS technology which will be used to provide farmers with information via text message, allowing them to register and access services without the need for internet access.

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

Just Like many countries, Nigeria faces climate change impacts such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and soil degradation. Despite being the backbone of our society, farmers often face significant challenges that hinder their productivity and economic growth. In many regions, farmers lack access to modern farming equipment, quality seedlings, and expert guidance, resulting in low yields, economic hardship, and food insecurity. Additionally, the upfront costs associated with acquiring farming machinery pose a financial barrier for smallholder farmers, further exacerbating their plight. Traditional payment models for farming services often strain the financial resources of farmers, limiting their ability to invest in essential inputs and technologies that could improve productivity. Moreover, inadequate support and consultation exacerbate existing challenges, leaving farmers ill-equipped to address issues such as crop diseases, soil degradation, and climate change impacts.

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

1)Tech-Enabled Farming Equipment: We will provide various types of tractors, small hand handled machines/equipment and harvesting machinery to ensure efficient and effective farming practices. 2) Enhanced Seedlings: For farmers in need, we will offer enhanced seedlings for grains and other crops, sourced from reputable suppliers. These high-quality seedlings will help farmers improve their yield and overall farm productivity. 3) Unique Payment Model: Instead of traditional monetary transactions, we offer a novel payment model where farmers can avail our services in exchange for an agreed-upon quantity of their farm produce after harvest. The farmer pays 50% total cost of service in cash and later pay the remaining 50% with his/her produce after harvest. This approach alleviates the financial burden on farmers, allowing them to access essential equipment and services without upfront costs. 4) we will also provide free consultation and advice to all registered farmers .

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

Farmers are the main beneficiaries of the TROKA app. Upon our project launch, our target is 500-1,000 small holder farmers with at least 70% of the total number to be women an youths across the 36 states in Nigeria including Abuja which is the capital. we are stating with the 17 local government in plateau state Nigeria were we will be supporting and working with about 150-300 small holder farmers who are mostly youths and about 60% of them are women and single mothers. we believe that with the implementation of our project, farmers can scale up their production with a 30%-40% increase on harvest. This will help feed more people and also help in reducing hunger and poverty rate in different communities where we will be operating at. Another set of people we are targeting are fertilizer and seedling producers. They will also benefit from this project as we will be partnering with them in order to provide our registered farmers the best inputs for their farms.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-03

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Oga Emmanuel is the co-founder and chief technology officer on the TROKA app project. He is a 19 year old highly motivated and results-oriented Freelance Software Engineer with 4 years of experience designing, developing, and implementing innovative software solutions. Proven ability to tackle complex problems, work independently, manage projects effectively, and deliver high-quality code within deadlines.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-pwol-7008b0101/

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

Zero poverty: When a smallholder farmer is able to scale his or her harvest by 30%-40%, this automatically results to more income for such farmer. This will help the farmer take care of his or her family which we believe will reduce the poverty rate of at least 200-500 farmers and their families.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Zero hunger: we believe that with the implementation of our project, farmers can scale up their production with a 30%-40% increase on harvest. This will help feed more people and also help in reducing hunger rate in different communities where we will be operating at. This project has an indirect benefits in 17 farming communities with more than 10,000 habits

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

nill

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Free Consultation and Advice: We understand that farming can be complex, and farmers may encounter various challenges throughout the farming cycle. Therefore, we will provide free consultation and advice to all registered farmers, offering insights and solutions to enhance their farming practices.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

For the record, about 70-80% of our team members are youths and the whole project is built on a youth and women focused initiative where we are focused towards supporting young famers and potential farmers. We know how women struggle to get the help and support they need to be as successful as the men, therefore we will be more interested in women own farms for more support and free consultation for a positive impact.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

nill

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

nill

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Capacity Building: We will Invest in capacity building initiatives to train local staff, technicians, and extension workers on project implementation, technology utilization, and sustainable farming practices. Empower local communities to take ownership of project activities, promote knowledge transfer, and foster self-sufficiency.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

nill

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Upon our project launch, our target is 1000-5,000 small holder farmers with at least 70% of the total number to be women an youths across the 36 states in Nigeria including Abuja which is the capital. we are stating with the 17 local government in plateau state Nigeria were we will be supporting and working with about 150- 300 small holder farmers who are mostly youths and about 60% of them are women and single mothers.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

nill

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

With the TROKA app, it is sure that any food produce by our farmers will be healthy and nutritious for all

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Climate action: Our project helps amplify the goal 13 on the SDG which is the climate action by making sure that we educate farmers on the effects of climate change and how all hands are needed to help preserve our environment. Also, the Modern farming equipment provided by the project is often more fuel-efficient and emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to traditional farming methods. By promoting the use of these technologies, the project can help reduce emissions from agricultural activities, contributing to overall emissions reduction efforts.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

nill

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

nill

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

nill

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

We will be working directly in partnership with the local governments, agricultural cooperatives, NGOs, and other stakeholders to facilitate project implementation, access resources, and leverage existing networks. Collaborating with local organizations will help us gain more insights into local contexts, build trust within communities, and ensure culturally appropriate approaches. some of these partners are farm tools and machines leasing/renting companies, fertilizer and enhanced seedling companies who will be readily available to supply and offer us their service at a discounted rates for a broader outreach and coverage within the different communities.

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

3

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

5

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

4

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

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

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

Our project which is the TROKA app provides a technology-enabled farming equipment, including tractors, small hand-held machines, and harvesting machinery, to optimize farming practices. we will offer a unique payment model, where farmers pay 50% of the total cost in cash and the remaining 50% with their produce after harvest. This is a user-friendly mobile application will serve as the central hub for farmers to access their services, allowing farmers input their details. On the app, we company will provide free consultation and advice to all registered farmers, offering insights and solutions to enhance their farming practices. Another great feature is the SMS technology which will be used to provide farmers with information via text message, allowing them to register and access services without the need for internet access.

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

RiceAfrica is our competitor We will be better than them because Our user-friendly mobile application will serve as the central hub for farmers to access our services. Farmers can input their details, including name, farm address, phone number, land size, usual farm yield, past challenges, etc. This information will enable us to tailor our services to meet the specific needs of each farmer effectively. Knowing fully well that most farmers reside in the rural areas were there is little or no internet access, we tend to use the SMS technology were by any farmer with any kind of phone can get access to informed information via text message without the need for internet. Farmers can register and have access to our services by just texting us. We will communicate information such as the availability of fertilizer, seedlings etc via message.

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

Upon our project launch, our target is 500-51000 small holder farmers with at least 70% of the total number to be women an youths across the 36 states in Nigeria including Abuja which is the capital. we are stating with the 17 local government in plateau state Nigeria were we will be supporting and working with about 150- 300 small holder farmers who are mostly youths and about 60% of them are women and single mothers.