Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

My project is a long term adventure aimed at solving the problem on scarcity safety of cooking oil in (Western) Kenya. It have three major parts 1 Oil seed farming _Sunflower and Peanut 2 Innovation and Research_ Seeds and Machinery 3 Oil processing.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

In Kenya we have a problem on edible oil production. This result into importation hence the scarcity, Safety and high price to the consumer. This worsen when there is problem with supply Chain like war in Ukraine. This project is therefore aimed at tackling three main moving parts in edible oil production. 1. Oil seed farming-Sunflower and Peanut. The project is looking forward to contracting farmers to plant these seeds by providing them with stratified seeds and later buying from them. This will therefore create a source income and encouragement to farmers. 2. Innovation and Research- This is aimed at Machinary and Seeds. Due to high cost of importing machines, the project is looking into taping in creative mind of Youths to develop these machines locally using locally available resources. Further certified seeds shall also be looked into. Seeds that are able to withstand climate change. 3. Oil Processing- availability of Raw material and Machinary will make Processing sustainable.

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

THE SCARCITY AND SAFETY OF EDIBLE OIL IN KENYA, Edible oil is one of the most important component of human food. It's availability is key and therefore it's safety must be taken care of. This project is trying to play a role in solving this problem in Kenya and beyond. The problem is divided into two interdependent segments. 1. Availability, Safety. Kenya imports edible oil from other parts of the world hence high cost and vernarability to supply Chain interaption like Ukraine War. The project is aimed at making this very important liquid available and also safe for consumers. This is by enhancing its production locally through; 1. Promoting oil seed farming in our villages ( Sunflower and Peanut). The oil component in these two plants range between 38% to 55%, hence making them the most ideal. Our farmers are also well conversant with them and our climate condition is as well favorable. The availability of raw materials will therefore lead to sustainable processing of the oil locally

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

The benefits of using sunflower oil includes; 1. Cooking- this is the best oil in cooking human food. It's a key ingredient in a nutritious diet. 2. Health- unlike other edible oil, sunflower oil is low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, hence good for heart health. 2.Skin care- in most cosmetic oil, sunflower oil component play a very important role in skin softening and protection from environmental elements. This make it a skin medicine.

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

My project is aiming to serving; 1. The house holds- this is where the cooking oil is used the most. Daily cooking cosume a given amount of oil, this directly affects the well-being of the family within the house. Availability of safe cooking play a big role in the health of individuals hence a happy family. 2. Hotels- this is also a very important sector that is targeted. Many people including youths and travellers eats in hotels. This make it mandatory to get safe cooking oil for these communities of people healthy. 3. Schools/ learning institutions- this where the future generation belong. There health is important for a healthy vibrant workforce of tomorrow. This project aims at providing safe and less costly cooking oil to these institutions. 4. Bakeries- these are key in providing products like bread that people use daily mostly for breakfast. Therefore Availability of safe cooking oil is a very important factor. 5. Farmers- the aim is to provide source of decent income and job.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-03-01

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

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

Christine Ngeso- She is semi-skilled in farming with a middle level experience. We work together in managing the project. This including funding and labour management. 2. Land owners- these are several people of different genders. We do rent land from them. They are also both male and female genders. They are semi-skiled farmers who do not have enough fund for farming expenses. Their level of skills is not available to us. 3. Labourers- this is also a group of both genders though female dominate. They are semi-skilled in farming and have a range of experience though not professionals.

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

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2fjeXf7F84ywN5xa/?mibextid=qi2Omg

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

This project aimed at producing cooking using oil seeds grown locally and using home grown innovation to develop machines to be used. This will creat source of decent income to local farmers. It will as well creat long term jobs for local Youths both highly educated and less educated. It will also lead to formation of other industries like animals feed production hence improving the level of animal farming in kenya which is another source of income, job and food. This is a project aiming at elevating food production, hence tackling the root course of poverty. Sunflower oil is proven to be very healthy hence reducing possibilities of contracting heart diseases which drain many people's resources when they strike. Therefore this is a strong indication that this project has a great potential of tackling poverty within our society.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My project aims at providing cooking oil which is one of the key food element. For a better nutritious diet oil is very important as source of various vitamins. Infact healthy cooking oil that the project intend to provide is one of the major food element that the UN agencies distribute in hunger strike areas around the world. It is used in cooking, baking and many more. Therefore for the humanity to achieve this ambitious goal, availability of edible oil must be given a priority. This project intend to do just that. The project is also aimed at creating other sub-sector in animal feed production using the by products hence improving meet production. This is also a key food element in Zero hunger goal. There are other elements like job creation for Youths and Source of income for farmers which will definitely play a big role in eradication of hunger in the community. This is because when an individual have money the first thing to buy will often be food for him/herself and the family.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Sunflower oil is low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, hence making it the best health wise. It is believed to be very friendly to the heart. Further more this is a food security matter, therefore in a community where there is a vailabilty of healthy food at a pocket friendly price, that community will always be healthy. There will be well-being within the community because this project is aiming at creating jobs and source of income as well. Therefore supporting education, creativity and innovation.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

This project is aimed at providing food which is essential in education. No pupil or student can go to school on an empty stomach. Furthermore learning only take place when there is good health and energy in the body. Healthy cooking oil provide this directly. Education is costly, hence need funding. This project will provide a source of income to farmers hence giving them a chance to pay for school fee for their children. Meaning their children will be kept in class to study instead of being sent home for lack of fee. The other aim of these project is to use localy available skills to provide labour, this means students will study hard knowing there is job opportunities after finishing their schooling. There is also element of creativity and innovation which will greatly involve our training institutions like Universities, Colleges and Vocational institutions to come up with machines like peanut sheller and oil press machines. Therefore it's clear that this project promote education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

This project is aiming equality in job opportunities and involvement of both gender in creativity and innovation. This is currently evident on the labour force we use. Check on our Facebook page ' El Paraiso- the heart beat of the people'. It is as well extended to land renting where we deal with both gender in equal measure.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

This project is aimed at providing healthy cooking oil. But will always champion availability of clean water to the society we operate in. This includes engaging in enabling the community to aquire or get involved in projects that assure them of clean water provision.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

My project promote the use of clean energy. Our machines shall be using electronic motors and also empress solar use in lighting. The project is to be set in Homabay, an area that receives 12 hour sunlight hence suitable for solar energy usage.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

This project aims at providing well paying job under good environment. This is because it will rely on creativity and innovation that requires settled mind that can think freely. It's also going to provide farmers with decent income from their produce. That is buying seeds at a good and reasonable price and paying on time to enable them take care of their financial needs and also continue with farming. This project will play a big role in economic growth through processing of edible oil locally using locally produced oil seeds. This will reduce demand on foreign currency to import oil therefore strengthening our shilling. It has a potential of playing a big role in meat production in Kenya by using byproduct to produce animal feed. Creating another source of income on that sector as well. Through creativity and innovation we intend to develop machines we tend to use locally using locally sourced materials. This is another source of income to those involved and the country at large.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

We shall use machines like peanut sheller and oil press machine. Our intention is to develop them locally through innovation and creativity. This an ongoing process and currently we have developed a peanut sheller with around 85% to 95% accuracy rate. The oil press machine is also a wake in Progress. Using locally sourced materials and skills. This is a clear indication that this project is aimed at promoting industry innovation and infrastructure for the present and future development. We as well doing research in the possible production of animal feed crasher to utilise the by product of sunflower seeds. Indeed this is a high way to infrastructure development in the industry.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Currently Kenya import edible oil from other countries at a very high cost. This project aims at reducing this dependence by bringing production of such essential commodity home. This will therefore reduce inequalities that are associated to food production. Their is an element of making machines locally that has a direct impact on our dependency on imported machines. This is as well a good sustainable goal that will bring our country closer to crossing that gape that currently exists in this sector. The project therefore contribute greatly to reducing inequalities among countries.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

My project is located outside cities in the rural area. This will reduce pressure on cities generated by rural to urban migration. This by creating jobs and other income opportunities in the rural areas. This will definitely give city planners time to draw good plans for the sustainable cities. This project will also provide food to the cities hence sustaining the people living within the cities. A healthy community is a goal for every individual and that is one of the core value of this project, to provide safe edible oil.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

This project aims at providing healthy oil through a well thought out process that do not result to wastage and exploitation of resources. That means that the project is aiming at being responsible on it resource consumption. This will spread that very responsive to the final consumer of the product itself. The production is also tellered at ensuring that resources are used to the last drop eg using by product to as raw materials for other goods like animal feed. The project also intend to use energy in a sustainable way including usage of energy saving machines and identifying other sources of energy like solar energy. Incorporating electric vehicles in logistics is also key.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Climate action is aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This project is aimed at using electric energy hence having zero or close to zero emissions. We are also looking into recycling our Waste to produce other goods eg animal feed and manure. This therefore will reduce our negative impact to the environment and the climate at large.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Our project does not have any plan to releasing wast to the water. Infact our plan include recycling of waste into a consumable products. We also intend to teach our farmers on on sustainable irrigation and use of pesticides so that it has minimum negative impact to life below water. This includes organic pesticides use.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

By responsible use of pesticides and herbicides of which we shall insist on organic and traditional means respectively, will play a big role in ensuring that life on land is healthy and sustainable. Manure will be our primary mode of maintaining facility of our farm lands.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Most of the time conflict and injustice are brought by inadequate Distribution of resources of which food availability is a mojer one. This project is aimed at tackling food insecurity. This will play abig role in strengthening peace, justice and building strong institution. This because people will have ability to speak out without being harassed best on food provision. Further more am looking forward to building a institution best on equality and harmony among stakeholders. This is by distributing opportunities equally among the community.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

My project intend to partner with different parties towards achieving sustainable development. These include global organisations and businesses like Total energy, UN agencies. Various government agencies like KEBS. Local government eg County government and local authorities. This is to promote checks and balances as well as incorporating new ideas especially from our learning instructions. Promote creativity and innovation among the youth. Protecting environment eg collaboration with NEEMA. Also ensuring sustainable production and passing on the button to the next neneration through training and coaching of young people.

05.01 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

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

6

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

6

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

6

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

My project idea is bringing home the production of edible oil that we mostly import as ether finished good or unfinished good to be processed further. It is unique in that it is incorporating creativity and innovation in the production chain. This include raw material production ( sunflower and peanut farming). It further look into making of production machinery using local talent and materials eg peanut sheller and oil press machine.

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

My main potential competitors are oil processing companies in Kenya who mostly import crude oil and the complete the production here. The fact that I intend to produce everything locally starting from raw materials which is oil seeds' sunflower and peanut ' makes me stand out from them. Further more I intend to use the skills and talent I have to make some key machines in production processes like peanut sheller and oil press machine. Am also intending to partner with local farmers and learning institutions to achieve the goal.

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

Yes In this project we have been working with my sister sharing our ideas to better our outcome.