Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The project aims at vegetable production in the dryer counties of Kitui and Kajiado where rain-fed agriculture is a challenge. I wish to grow them on large scale under irrigation to curb the problem of malnutrition which results due to lack of vegetables

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

I wish to grow vegetables under irrigation since my people suffer from shortage of vegetables due to the inadequate rains we receive. This has led to malnutrition to the vulnerable ones due to lack of a balanced diet.I intend to grow healthy vegetables of all types and not limited to the leafy,fruit and pod vegetables under irrigation. As a trained agriculture extension officer,this project will serve as a resource center for teaching the community on how to do dry land agriculture,start and manage their own kitchen gardens and impart on them skills about vegetable farming. In my business plan I need a steady supply of water which will also help the community which suffers from water scarcity for both domestic use and for livestock.I also wish to incorporate learners in schools in the project so that they can learn too.I wish to start with an hactare of onions,tomatoes,potatoes,kales,spinach,cabbages and indigenous vegetables like pigweed and african night shade and pulses like beans

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

The problem of hunger and malnutrition due to lack of vegetables which constitute a balance diet. Maize is our stapple food which must be taken with a vegetable to prevent diseases such as kwashiorkor and other nutritional diseases. Also the problem of unemployment among the youths in my sub county will be reduced since many will be employed directly or indirectly under the project.

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 consuming vegetables are: 1. They provide minerals such as iron which is in plenty in dark green vegetables such as kales. 2. They are a rich source of vitamins such as carrots which give vitamin A which improves our eye sight 3.They are a source of income when produced in plenty and sold. This income can be used to cater for other expenses such as food,education and medication. 4.They provide employment opportunities directly as farm laborers or indirectly as vegetable sales person.

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

my targeted beneficiaries is the whole community at large since everyone consumes vegetables.Furthermore, At household level ,i will help them start up their kitchen gardens,at school level I will instill the need of school shambas which grow vegetables and everyone will eat and learn through the project

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-01

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

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

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

1. Faith Mombi-Graduate from University of Eldoret with a bachelors degree in General Agriculture.She does small scale rain fed agriculture in Kajiado county for about 4 years now. 2. James Tipis- an Agricultural Economist with 3 years of experience ,working with an agricultural community based organization

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

http://loisekavengi.com

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Agriculture is a key economic activity in kenya and through vegetable farming the living standards will improve

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My project will provide vegetables which will boost the four pillars food security in the country.Vegetables will help improve on the community's nutrition which will in turn greatly reduce nutritional diseases . My project will be undertaken in a dry area which will utilize scarce resources to produce goods which will satisfy and sustain food demands which is one of the basic needs. I believe my project will challenge and change the mind sets of the community about farming on dry lands under conservation agriculture.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Vegetables provide minerals and vitamins which help prevent nutritional diseases such as kwashiorkor and anaemia

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Through my project people will learn skills of vegetables production which will be passed on to the next generation

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Farming is mostly done by women and girls in my community and through this project I will outreach them and empower them with more skills on vegetable farming in dry areas

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

I intend to drill a borehole for the project which will also in turn provide clean water to the community members to use

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

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My project will employ both men and women to provide labor directly in the farm or indirectly as sales people.This will enhance economic growth because people will get income as they work.With food availability,the economic growth will also increase

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Since vegetables can be produced in all seasons,this project will help me contribute this sustainable development goal

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Dry land farming under irrigation has greatly reduced the impact of climate change such as food shortages during to climate change which has increased the uncertainties and risks of rain fed agriculture

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

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

My project will mainly focus on Conservation agriculture which aims st reducing soil degradation and conserve soil and water resources.Through this I will be protecting the terrestrial ecosystems

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

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

I believe that my project will bring together the members of the society and enhance unity without local and international partners in the project.There will be no discrimination on basis of literacy level or physical fitness or even gender. It is all inclusive

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

I call upon all other innovative farmers in the world to join hands in my project in any way to make it s success and Form international agriculture partnerships

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.

5

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.

5

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.

3

05.08 Justification

Vegetables are consumed by nearly all households on a daily basis but our project aims at producing diversified vegetables which will be an extension of the few vegetables which are consumed by the members of the society.Through my project,i envision to meet the high demand of vegetables in the local markets of our community.This will provide the essential minerals and vitamins which are only found in vegetables and curb the problem of malnutrition.

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

my main potential competitors are livestock Farmers who provide meat and eggs as an alternative for vegetables to the community members. What makes me stand out from them is the cost of the vegetables which I will produce. This will attract more customers since animal products are relatively expensive when compared to vegetables. Also ,in matters to do with nutrition,many people opt for vegetables rather than meat which poses a great health risk. This will give me a competitive advantage. My project will also not rely on rain as livestock farmers do. This will help ensure a steady supply of vegetables in all seasons of the year even when livestock farmers will be providing little or no products in the market

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

Yes. I have mobilized a group of youths which we do tree nurseries for sale and also table banking to finance little projects like poultry farming in our homes