Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our mission is to Impact Lives through Sustainable Agriculture. The projects goal is to provide Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) to Farmers, Individuals and Businesses.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

We are an agricultural company that focuses primarily in the horticultural sector. Our vision is to set the standard for top quality exports. Through our extensive CSR program we have made positive changes to the livelihoods of the small holder farmers we worked with. We aim to provide Digital Climate Advisory Services to further boost the productivity and yields that each farmer requires. This service will provide real time weather and market data, as well as providing simplified farming advice for the daily challenges that a farmer faces. In future we would also like to partner with regional leadership in a PPP model, and businesses already in this field to further bolster the farmers and various industry players.

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

Since our inception we noticed that the small holder farmers have been left out of the bigger picture. We aim to restore their confidence in the future of farming. We have done quite extensive work by going to the farmer and finding out their grievances and trying to solve for them. Most of them complained about the lack of oversight, market data and having the middle men come in and take advantage of them, by providing Digital Climate Advisory Services we aim to return the power back into the farmers hands. We also aim to provide the service to individuals, regulators and businesses. This will ensure that they stay informed on the climatic conditions in their communities and better prepare for any risks that may affect them.

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

Real time accurate weather data: the climate is constantly changing and this is a major hurdle for small holder farmers. The provision of rea time weather data will allow for better planning and overall farm management, increasing efficiency and yields. Market Data: by providing accurate farm-gate pricing to the farmers they will not be taken advantage of by the middle men. Farm management platform: through the tracking of farming inputs the farmer will be able to plan better and use the resources available to them more efficiently.

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

Our service is aimed at small holder farmers within Kenya from the Central, Eastern and Western regions. Especially because most of the farmers in these regions are women who are responsible for their family welfare and livelihoods. We aim to run it in a B2C model and are also going to implement B2B and B2G in the near future. To ensure that implementation is done swiftly and legislation / regulation are suitable at the time of launch.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-01-23

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

0

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.)

Daniel Gogo Abwonji: A well seasoned and dedicated professional with a passion for sustainable farming and innovative technology. Has a deep understanding of the business side of agriculture, including market trends, supply chain management and agricultural economics. Advocates for agroecology to protect natural resources and build resilience against climate change. Envisions a world where farming is sustainable, profitable and accessible to everyone.

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

https://www.instagram.com/raindancegrowers/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The goal of ending poverty in Kenya and Africa is quite achievable. With the right initiatives and leadership to spearhead the movement to end poverty we can all participate in this endeavor. We aim to contribute to this goal by implementing sustainable agricultural practices within the small holder farming communities. The creation of an agroecological system supported by climate smart digital technologies will ensure that efficiencies are created in the communities in which we serve. As well as that we will be providing Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS). To further empower the sometimes forgotten people in our society and elevate them from their poor living conditions. These solutions will increase their yields, provide greater access to market information and forecast future climatic conditions to prepare for unknown risks that will lead to an overall increase in wealth.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The platform that we aim to create will close the education/ information gap that we find most women in the rural communities face. By providing real time market and climate data, simplified farming knowledge the communities that we serve will be able to make informed data driven decisions. This will empower the women in the communities that we serve by providing the valuable information that they previously lacked.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

DCAS is a relatively new and innovative concept in Africa, more than 90% of the market for these services remains untapped. We aim to introduce this innovative concept to further promote sustainable agricultural practices in the various communities. This will allow for a more inclusive agricultural sector. Women empowerment and education is vital to the future of Africa. Providing them with a service that simplifies their heavy workloads will ensure that they are not left out in the development of our future.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

DCAS empowers them to make informed decisions, enhancing productivity and resilience to climate change. Additionally, DCAS facilitates knowledge sharing and capacity building, bridging the information gap between developed and developing regions. By democratizing access to vital climate information, DCAS promotes equitable agricultural development, reduces vulnerability to climate impacts, and supports sustainable livelihoods, contributing to a more balanced global agricultural landscape.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

DCAS make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by providing real-time weather forecasts and early warnings for extreme events, aiding urban planning with climate data, and ensuring all residents access crucial information. DCAS promotes resource efficiency, supports sustainable practices, and enhances public health and safety by alerting on climate-related risks, ensuring resilient and adaptive urban environments.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

DCAS can ensure sustainable consumption and production by providing data and insights that help optimize resource use and minimize waste. We can track resource flows and environmental impacts, enabling businesses and governments to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for recycling, reuse, and waste reduction. Additionally, DCAS supports the development of sustainable supply chains by offering insights into resource availability and environmental conditions, ensuring that production processes are resilient and adaptive to changing climate conditions.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

DCAS provide real-time data, that inform adaption strategies and promote sustainable practices globally.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

2

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

3

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

3

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

4

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

3

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

3

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

3

05.08 Justification

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

Our potential competitor is Agritech Analytics, they are a data driven company that supports small scale farmers. We stand out from them because we aim to develop a more robust system of services to be provided to the farmers. Not only will we be working to improve their farming operations through digital services. We aim to empower them by availing simple farming techniques that support agroecology, real-time data on their farming input utilization, and real time climate / weather data. We as well aim to create a more seamless ecosystem with our stakeholders, to further impact lives trough sustainable agriculture.

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

No