Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Founded as Orkikapu groceries, a fresh vegetables distribution enterprise in Kenya's capital city, Nairobi - Orkikapp is a brainchild that seeks to provide linkage between small scale farmers and clients in different parts of Kenya through e-commerce.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

ORKIKAPP seeks to link small-scale farmers to direct markets through an e-commerce platform. Through the platform, we seek to reduce the chain between the farmer and the customer thus cost of purchasing vegetables on the consumers’ side while at the same time maximizing on the farmers’ profits since they will be dictating the selling price.

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

Agribusiness is viewed as a lucrative business for many aspiring Kenyan farmers. However, most small scale farmers not only in Kenya but globally face one major common problem; linkages to markets. In April, 2023, I founded Orkikapu Groceries. I had ventured into small-scale agricultural production and I could not find a sensible market for my produce. I had tried selling directly to wholesalers in markets since I was certain they had the capacity to purchase the volume of my crop but they were offering low prices since they had to resale. I had to choose between letting my crop rot/over grow in the farm or sell at a very small margin after putting in weeks of work in the farm or, sale directly to consumers. I did the latter and not only was I able to recoup make profits and exhaust my produce; I ended up being a link between other farmers and customers. In the first 5 months, I had served more than 200 clients directly through deliveries.

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

Small scale farmers get a linkage to a readily available market directly thus reducing the risk of losing perishable produce Farmers dictate the value of their produce and thus maximizing on revenue Clients get fresh vegetables directly from the farm at a friendlier price Clients can conveniently buy from the their comfort instead of physically going to the market/farm.

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

Small Scale farmers in the outskirts of Nairobi (including kitchen gardens) General population in Nairobi and institutions. Our plan is to scale this up to other parts of the country

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-04-05

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.)

My name is Peru Alex Khaemba. I am a 29 year old, tenacious Kenyan based entrepreneur currently living and working in Nairobi. I am also a passionate small-scale farmer, having have been introduced into farming by my mother about 8 years ago when she ventured into agribusiness and I have never looked back since. Over the years, I have had the front row seat of observing the challenges they she has been facing and in some instances, I have had the privilege of helping her come up with solutions until I recently ventured into the same myself.

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/orkikapu/

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

According to the Kenyan Government’s agricultural sector development strategy 2010-2020; agriculture contributes about 25% of GDP employing over 75% of informal labor force. More than 80% of Kenyans live in rural areas, majority derive livelihoods from agriculture. By providing small scale farmers with a direct linkage to markets, we are ensuring there is income flowing in their households which will have many ripple effects that will contribute immensely towards poverty eradication. This direct linkage will also maximize their prices. For the clients, a lot of money will be saved either directly through buying these vegetables at a cheaper than the usual rate thus saving some money but also indirectly by using the time they would have spent to physically go to the market or the farm in other productive activities.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

By ensuring small scale farmers have an income, they can afford to purchase what they do not produce. Also, the jobs the project will create will feed multiple families

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

Clients will purchase freshly harvested vegetables directly from the farm, this means they will get maximum nutritional value from the purchased vegetables

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The major stake holders; Farmers and the platform providers will be able to put not only educate themselves but they will also be able to educate others since the platform will be a sustainable income generating venture

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Since we do not create partnerships based on gender, a lot of women will be beneficiaries as we will engage them as either farmers or employees

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Food, being sensitive, has to be handled in highly hygienic ways. While we guarantee this, we don't think we will infringe on sanitation conditions within our operating sorroundings

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

With current innovations, we are looking at using electric motor vehicles for delivery logistics.

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

By creating employment and engaging even hobby farmers

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

By creating an application to service both farmers and clients

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

We are providing a direct linkage to markets to disadvantaged small scale farmers and hobby farmers/gardeners

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Communities are able to sustain themselves when members are enabled to generate income

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

By linking farmers to markets, the risk of losing produce is lowered

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Using fully electric vehicles for deliveries in the long run. Through CSR, we can foster for initiates such us tree planting where we frequently bring together farmers and clients for tree planting events

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

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

Farming is one of the activities that makes life on land bearable. Providing farmers with linkage to direct markets in a good incentive to not only encourage them but also attract others

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

4

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

We are open to working with relevant organisations to ensure we meet a good majority if not all of these SDGs. It is also one of our motivating factors for enrolling into this competition

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

4

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.

5

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

2

05.08 Justification

We are yet to see an app that links farmers directly to markets. What could be in existence is resellers who buy and sell to clients. There is a ready market for food since it is a recurring consumable.

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

Resellers and middlemen in the industry. We stand out because our job is purely distribution. Our value proposition is that we enable clients save money and allow the farmer make maximum profits

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

No