Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

It is a project that will use macadamia nuts farmed in Kenya to make several consumer goods and also craete employment for the farmers and reduce wastage.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

It is a macadamia nuts value addition project. Macadamia farmers in my country had been having a problem with finding a market for their produce which forced them to sell it in the local market at loss. Before the covid-19, macadamia was grown for export to China and other Asian countries but that market closed and farmers are now selling their produce at less than 10% of what they sold for 4 years ago and most of the produce is lost in the stores as there is no macadamia nuts eating culture in the country. I am starting a project that will create a macadamia eating culture in Kenya which has not been there. I will create several products out of the nuts among them: packaged raw organic macadamia nuts, roasted and salted macadamia nuts, chocolate and caramel coated macadamia nuts and chocolate bars and fudges with macadamia nuts. These will be sold in the markets at an affordable price and in small portions. I will also create a gifting culture around the products.

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

Farmers in Kenya had no an export market for macadamia nuts since the covid pandemic in 2020. Macadamia were sold for ksh 300 a KG at the farm gate in 2019 but it got to a low of ksh 20 a KG hawked on the streets between 2020 and 2023. Most farmer suffer big loses and have their produce wasted with no market for it. I want to work with these farmers by creating a value for their produce.

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

Macadamia nuts are naturally low in sugar and carbohydrates. They also contain various essential nutrients such as dietary fiber and antioxidants that help reduce the risk or manage conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and digestive health. They're also an excellent source of: Protein, Monounsaturated fat, Vitamin E, Manganese, Thiamine, and Copper.

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

1: My project will help the Kenyan macadamia farmers find a local market for their produce. The bulk of Kenyan macadamia is produced by about 200,000 smallholder farmers. Kenya's macadamia production increased rapidly during the last decade, from around 11,000 tones nut-in-shell (NIS) production in 2009 to 42,500 tones in 2018. These farmers had been hopeless as they lose most of their produce in the stores for lack of market. 2: My project will also help malnourished children and adults get an affordable and high calorie source of nutrients. Macadamia nuts contain Protein, Monounsaturated fat, Vitamin E, Manganese, Thiamine, and Copper. A small pouch of the nuts will give people enough calories for a day at a very affordable price.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-03-08

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.)

none

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?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

This projects supports 200,000 small holder rural Kenyan farmers who are women and elderly. it will held find market for their produce, educate their children and pay their bill.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Most school going children from rural and informal settlements do not get proper nutrition. This project will help malnourished children and adults get an affordable and high calorie source of nutrients. Macadamia nuts contain Protein, Monounsaturated fat, Vitamin E, Manganese, Thiamine, and Copper. A small pouch of the nuts will give people enough calories for a day at a very affordable price.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Macadamia nuts are high in healthy fats and may help those trying to lose weight or get proper diet. Its nutritional value include. it lower heart disease risk. They improve metabolic syndrome and diabetes. They may prevent cancer. They protect the brain. They may prevent weight gain. They keep off hunger.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Most of the farmers are single parents and rural folks who are paying school fee. finding market for their produce will help them get money that will help them educate their children, clothe them, take them to hospital and pay bills.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Majority of the farmers are single mothers and women who don't own the land they farm on. Finding market for their produce will help them get money which they will use to pay their family bills and maybe buy land of their own.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Supporting the rural farmers will empower the 200,000 macadamia farmers and will grow the country`s economy as every shilling into the basket is a big gain.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Macadamia nuts are not consumed locally in the country and this project will create products that will appeal to the local people and create products that didn't exist.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Land in Kenya is owned by the men. Majority of the farmers are single mothers and women who don't own the land they farm on. Finding market for their produce will help them get money which they will use to pay their family bills and maybe buy land of their own.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

A big percentage of the farmers produce is wasted at the moment. this project craeting a market for them will reduce wastage.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Macadamia bushes contribute to tree cover and reduce carbon.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

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

2

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

2

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

2

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

5

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

2

05.08 Justification

The products we are creating are new and innovative. These are products that are making use of a material that was not used and creating new products.

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

None. No company creates anything out of macadamia nuts in Kenya.

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

Yes