Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

SWEET AGRICULTURE FOR YOUTH is a youth (18-22) skilling center aiming to irrigate dry Ukambani (Mtito Andei) 100acre to produce enough vegetables to lower family food cost, demonstrate poverty eradication through farming and catalyze youth self employment

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

My project which is the the feasibility pilot stage currently is an all-round project aiming to utilize a grossly under-utilized river in Mtito Andei, Kenya to irrigate over 100 acres of almost idle land to produce vegetables. The main target vegetables are cabbages, kales (collards) and tomatoes which are served with country's staple food - ugali. For production, I aim to employ 1 youth per two acres hence totally aim to employ and skill over 50 youths for two years each. The salary earned by the local youths will help alleviate the community from poverty. At the end of two years, I expect every youth to have accumulated experience to farm independently and capital to start self. The continued ripple effect of skilling and empowerment over time is expected to trigger more youth into agriculture creating employment for many lacking formal education. The increased food production will see price drop of cabbage from the present KES.100 to KES 30 making food affordable to everyone.

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

Job creation for a society with over 1000 (70%) unemployed youth and some poorly employed. My venture will provide decent employment in the current time and has capacity to create more endless jobs in future even in my absence Hunger elimination-given the high unemployment rate and an average daily wage of around KES. 300 (2.5 USD) in an area where a cabbage retails KES 100, most families skip meals due to unaffordability and I aim to slash prices to 1/3 of the current one. Skilling of Youth & Providing capital after training-due to poverty most young people do not enroll for tertiary education or training. I aim to skill at least 50 youths every two years. I intend to engage youth aged 18-22 who will gain skills in food production to help later self employment. Part of the earnings will be retained to provide the youth start-up capital upon completion of the training. Triggering National food security & prosperity - upon success in an arid area people elsewhere will mimic food 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).

A unique school (training center) - mine is going to be a food production project that trains youngsters without charging fees but rather paying them instead and providing a sure, secure job and livelihood after training completion. We have great shortage of such training center nationally. Provision of the most affordable food solution in the target area - the staple food here is served with my product (vegetables) whose retail price is a third of the daily wage currently. The high price is due to high transport cost from production areas. By producing locally, I will reduce the price to 30% of the current price (or 10% of the daily wage. Jobs created have potential to grow exponentially (without end) - the youths who train in my farm will later be employers and train more and more people over time until our country becomes a net exporter of food. Sum up also the indirect jobs. Ability to prove to my countrymen that indeed its possible to succeed even in remotest conditions.

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

I target to empower the local youth through free-of-charge skilling and employment for otherwise people who would not have afforded an education and job opportunities in a country whose median age is 19.9 and with little jobs. I target to make food affordable to over 70% needy local families in Mtito Andei area of Kenya as well as expand the local food basket. I target to initiate a reform to our national education system to embrace a training able to solve national challenges while paying the learners other than charging learners. I target to set a good example to youths in highland areas of Kenya (and other parts of Africa) to embrace agriculture as a source of livelihood, food security and eventual prosperity.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-02-01

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

1

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.)

My current partner is also my wife. She is a university graduate (Journalist) who is not comfortable with formal employment. She grew up in the Kenyan Highlands where she learnt basic farming techniques from her family members. She has been part of our pilot project where we are currently irrigating 1-1.5 acres of land and producing kales/collards and a few tomatoes. In the venture, she has accumulated skill in using basic irrigation and we've done numerous tests o best farming practices suited in this arid area.

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

An agriculture project that is skilling youths without any fees charged ensures access of opportunities to anyone that is willing regardless of their financial status. Provision of employment will ensure every household will enjoy a decent income and every family upon seeing my success will easily replicate an income generating project My project helps the youth create capital from scratch by using otherwise resources hence wealth creation for the vulnerable

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My project will reduce the cost of food commodity to 30% of the current price (10% of daily wage) in the local area. This is mainly due to heavy reduction of food transport cost. The tremendous reduction of the food price couple with creation of decent jobs and earnings will lessen cases of people skipping meals and hunger in the local area. In cases where I engage youth from families with zero income, it will ensure that at least every family gets basic food.

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

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

My vegetable production venture will ensure children, the aged and all members of the local society can afford the currently expensive vegetables hence improvement of health. The money saved from household food budgets arising from my good food prices will help access medical care in case of need. Improvement in mental wellness/well-being will be achieved when local people can affordably get food as well as see the youth employed.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

My project aims at skilling the youth(18-22) free-of-charge. The youth access practical training that is not being provided elsewhere an simultaneously earn a salary. My project will lead to affordable food for school-going children which in turn will lead to better concentration in class With jobs created, more and more parents locally will be able to afford school fees for basic education My project success in itself will be an education locally, nationally and globally which many people will copy within my project cycle I will offer to train farmers who visit my project farm

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The project area (Mtito Andei) is synonymous with prostitution whereby local women due to poverty and economic circumstance engage in commercial sex with long distance drivers along the Nothern Corridor (Nairobi-Mombasa Highway). Some of the women solely and cheaply do so to afford food for their families. By making food affordable, such women will no longer be taken advantage of by truck drivers. Similarly, young women trained and employed in my program will have alternatives. Young men engaged in my program will be empowered to have equal economic opportunity to some women who choose to engage in commercial sex work.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

With some saving realized from cost of food, local people will afford to buy clean distilled water, sanitary towels, soap etc

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

My project aims at producing food locally as opposed to long distance transportation. By reducing the transport distance, less fossil fuel will be used hence cleaning air Reduction in food cost and better employment will lead families to have more disposable income to purchase solar powered devices for this hot area or connect to HEP electricity and hence ditch kerosene and charcoal as primary sources of 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

My project will provide decent jobs in agriculture for the youth and skill them to expand the field of food production. With proper scale, the local food prices will go down and eventual prosperity as the target area will be able to 'export' food to other areas. with such skilled people to spread the growth nationally, economic growth will be realized and it's my dream that my country will eventually become a net exporter of food and have numerous indirect jobs as a result of my project.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

My project is a unique idea of education that pays rather than one that is paid for. This will trigger a paradigm shift in how the nation and the world treats education/training. Equally my project is to be conducted in an arid area and this will proof that food production by the youth can succeed anywhere. With special ideas to be brought up by learning youth new innovations in food production will be realized

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Within my country, food prices are the highest in my project target area. For example, a cabbage that retails for KES. 30 in Nairobi (The Capital) is sold for KES. 100 in my project target area yet wages in Nairobi area two times higher. The situation leads to more poverty in my target area. My project aims to cancel this inequality and bring down the price of cabbage down to KES. 30 (similar to Nairobi's)

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

At the current state in my project target community, the average daily wage is KES 300 whereas a cabbage costs KES 100, not accounting for other family expenses. Life has been highly unsustainable and any increase in global fuel cost will worsen the situation. My project will aid bring down the cost of a cabbage to KES. 30 (10% of daily wage). With Kenya's high population growth it is unsustainable to create a limited (fixed) number of jobs. My project aims to create numerous exponential(ever-growing) jobs by training youth who will in turn create similar projects and expand to further create more jobs,

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

NO much contribution

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

My project has irrigation aspect and with the irrigation water, trees will grow in farms and contribution to positive climate action To ensure sustainable supply of irrigation water, communities will be motivated to nuture and conserve the natural water resources

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

As we irrigate in my project, trees will grow in an otherwise arid area, this also prevents desrtification To ensure continued supply of water for my project, we will have to ensure that water sources(forests &rocks) are protected.

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

My project will skill youth, employ them and ensure that they later start independent ventures which will in turn make them busy and live crime-free as opposed to some idle jobless people My project will ensure fairness in opportunities for all hence reduce aggression that may arise as people compete for fewer opportunities

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

In the implementation of my project and after significant growth nationally, we will import significant machinery from countries specializing in arid areas food production and also countries producing heavy machinery. We will then import food to other countries and this will strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations

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.

6

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

6

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

5

05.08 Justification

My project has two major aspects - skilling the youth for food production and use of food production locally to reduce food prices by eliminating food cost. The youth skilling component is an entirely new idea here and an extension of a new education model. The aspect of food production has largely not been tried and the local market is relying on buying food products from other markets and the transport distance makes cost high. Nobody has tried the scale of food production on 100 acre parcel here.

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

My main potential competitors are: 1. Polytechnics and colleges - in that they also skill youths. I stand out from them in my ability to offer free of charge education and better pay my learners. 2. Long distance suppliers- in that they too supply the commodity I intend to supply. I stand out from them in that the cost incurred by them for transport is too high that they are unable to offer lower prices as mine 3. Few small scale local producers - stand out from them in that I will enjoy economies of scale that their only motivating factor is profit while my motives goes beyond profit and extends into societal empowerment

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

YES. The only customers I've had in my pilot project are women. I strongly supported my mother start off her cosmetic enterprise