Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The charcoal briquettes and bio char fertilizer produced from ground nut shells waste obtained from ground oil business we are involved in will enable us reduce, recycle and reuse waste to conserve the environment, generate profit and create employment.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Holien and Bundo Abana youth group are involved in processing of virgin groundnut oil with ground nut cake and ground nut shells as a waste product from our core business. The waste products generated from our business can be reduced, recycled and reused by Making Charcoal briquettes and bio char fertilizer. The ground nut shells with saw dust and other agro waste materials can also be recycled into charcoal briquettes which is alternative source of fuel that can be used in place of charcoal and firewood and bio-char fertilizer that can be used to improve soil fertility and or making carbonated briquettes. Turning the our peanut shells waste plus saw dust obtained from lumbering activities and other agro into charcoal briquettes and biochar fertilizer ensures that we mitigate pollution problem and create employment to the local people. This wastes are inefficiently used causing extensive pollution to the environment.

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

1. Provision of Clean energy To promote use of charcoal briquettes as alternative source of fuel in place of wood charcoal and firewood so as to conserve natural resources and maintain a healthy environment. 2. Improving soil fertility and increasing the crop production yield. The bio char has the following qualities that improve soil fertility and increase crop yield because of the following reasons. High stability – provides permanent sequestration of C in soil. High specific area and porosity – improved water-holding capacity mitigates drought effects hence a climate smart agriculture. Improves plant nutrient retention – mainly through absorption of soil solution, efficiency in fertilizer use. High pH – alleviates acidity and Al toxicity in acid soils. Attractive surfaces for plant-microbe interaction – positive effects on many microbiological processes in soil and root growth.

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. Charcoal briquettes Briquettes burn without any smoke during ignition and burning. Minimum residual ash is formed (less than 5% of the original weight of the charcoal). The concentration of fixed carbons will be about 82%. The calorific value of charcoal briquettes is 7500 Kcal/KG. Briquettes contains minimum evaporative substances, thus eliminating the possibility of odour. Briquettes burn twice as long as hardwood charcoal due to fewer cracks and increased strength. Briquettes do not produce sparks as do the hardwood charcoal. 2. Bio char fertilizer. High stability – provides permanent sequestration of C in soil. High specific area and porosity – improved water-holding capacity mitigates drought effects hence a climate smart agriculture. Improves plant nutrient retention – mainly through absorption of soil solution, efficiency in fertilizer use. High pH – alleviates acidity and Al toxicity in acid soils.

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

The targeted beneficiaries are: 1. Charcoal briquettes; Hotel, eateries, schools and roadside traders in Nyamira, Kebirigo, Kisii, Ikonge and Keroka towns and the households in Nyamira County. 2. Bio Char Fertilizers; Subsistence farmers in Nyamira County.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-01

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.)

Julius Mogaka Ongaga -Lab Technician Dorca Ongaga - Farmer, Retired Banker Kevin Omwoyo - Finance proffeasional Hellen Nyaoga - Horticulture Officer Conceptor Kwamboka Mogaka - Farmer.

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

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

Our products the Charcoal briquettes and fertilizer will be affordable as they come from the recycled waste which are cheaply acquired from the community.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The bio char fertility therefore leading to increase in crop yield.

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

The ground nut oil we already produce is cholesterol free and has numerous health benefits i.e it is beneficial to people with blood sugar ailments.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

By organizing workshops to sensitize them on good crop cultivation practices.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our business majorly depends on agriculture and agricultural waste, Women are majority of farmers therefore they will benefit from our business.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Bio char can be uses for water purification, we can pursue this also if it proves to be sustainable.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Charcoal briquettes are obtained from recycled agro waste thus we will be providing clean energy

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

Recycling of waste will enable use generate more income and create more employment opportunities. The waste that are pollutants are turned into valuable products which are a source of income to us and to those who will be producing the waste.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Turning of waste requires innovation and at times importation of technology and machinery.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Use of the charcoal briquettes and bio char fertilizers will reduce overdependence on imported fertilizers and imported fuel.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Use of charcoal briquettes as alternative source of energy in urban centres within the community reduces overdependence on wood an charcoal as a source of fuel for heating. Wood and charcoal are pollutants thus by using briquettes from recycled waste we will be conserving the environment.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

6

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.

4

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

5

05.08 Justification

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

Charcoal vendors, firewood vendors, and those selling cooking gas.

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

Yes, Women involvement in business.