Malawi - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

At EtagriX we are using drone technologies and syntropic farming practices to enable farmers harvest more yield per acre than ever before. We increase crop yield, optimize the use of resources and promote sustainable farming methods.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

EtagriX uses drone technologies and syntropic farming practices to harvest more yield per acre. We harness the power of drone technology to provide precise monitoring, analysis, and management of crops. We train farmers to adopt these similar practices for profitability. Our drones enable real-time data collection, allowing farmers to detect pests early and overall monitoring of crop health with high accuracy. In addition to drone technology, we use and teach farmers syntropic farming techniques that mimic natural ecosystems, enhances biodiversity and soil health while maximizing crop yield. This approach promotes sustainability and resilience against climate change. We aim to increase productivity, reduce resource usage, and support the global demand for food in an environmentally friendly way. EtagriX is committed to empowering farmers with the tools and knowledge they need for food security and profitability in sustainable farms.

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

The main problem we are addressing is the inefficiency and unsustainability of traditional farming practices in Malawi. These traditional practices lead to environmental degradation and reduced crop yields. Farmers face challenges which affect agricultural productivity and sustainability. It turns out that Malawi harvests roughly 16 bags per hectare of soya beans. The global average is 50 bags per hectare. At this rate, Malawi cannot compete on the global market. EtagriX seeks to solve these issues by leveraging drone technology and syntropic farming methods. By providing precise real-time data on crop health our drones enable farmers to make best decisions, thereby increasing efficient use of resources and increasing crop yields. Syntropic farming restores biodiversity making farms more resilient to environmental challenges and reduces dependency on chemicals. Together, these innovations aim to create a more productive and sustainable agricultural system in Malawi.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Firstly, farmers harvest more yield per acre which contributes to food security. Higher yields ensure a stable food supply, crucial for meeting the needs of growing populations in Malawi. Higher yields also directly translate to increased revenue for farmers. Our precision agriculture helps to identify issues with the crops early and help in mitigation. It also helps farmers to allocate resources efficiently depending on need. Syntropic agriculture methods promote resilience to climate change. Our syntropic farming practices help create stable microclimates and reduce the vulnerability of crops to adverse climate. Syntropic farming also focuses on building and maintaining healthy soil which promotes sustainable crop production. We also have a social impact in our communities. We provide comprehensive training and support to farmers on how to use our technology and implement our practices. This empowers farmers to adopt advanced techniques and improve their livelihoods.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our beneficiaries are smallholder farmers. We work with small farmer groups in Mchinji district. These are farmers who grow soya beans and or maize. There are over two million smallholder farmers in Malawi and those that we work with are part of this population. We selected these crops because they represent a cash flow (soya beans) and food security (maize) for them and the community. Soya beans is becoming a highly valuable crop as people are migrating from tobacco farming and companies have high demand for the bean. We also train them on how to apply these modern agricultural methods in their own farming. Our secondary beneficiaries are commercial farms. Large-scale farms require efficient and scalable solutions to manage large areas of crops which is almost impossible to manage manually and optimize resource use for profitability.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-10-10

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Elizabeth Nthapalapa, BSc. Biomedical Engineering. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of the business. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the Malawi University of Science and Technology in Malawi. She has skills and experience working on diverse technological projects across different fields. She oversees the technological part of the business which has been very valuable. She has also experience in startups having founded her own agribusiness. Elizabeth is passionate about using technology to make a difference in people's lives in agriculture.

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

https://www.etagrix.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

By using our methods of farming, farmers end up with increased crop yields and higher income. We believe that when farmers harvest enough for themselves and have enough to sell, they can get themselves out of poverty. They can have surplus to sell and make livings out of that. They can also afford other basic needs when they have been empowered using the methods that we have described. Furthermore, by reducing the use of inputs, they can have more savings. Our methods reduce the cost of farming significantly. With the skills they have learnt, they can use them for life which is an important tool to get communities out of poverty. By adopting the resilient farming methods, they can insure their futures from economic shocks.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

When families harvest more per same piece of land than before, they can feed their families which will mean no hunger, one family at a time until the whole village is food sufficient. Apart from the increased yield, farmers also learn the sustainability way of farming which ensures that homes have enough supply of food throughout the year which is crucial for growing populations in Malawi. Since farmers can sell the surplus, they can have access to other nutritious food from the local markets which is important for healthy families.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

When families can feed themselves well and have enough to sell, they can have better health. They can afford essential medicines in pharmacies which are not usually found in local public clinics. They can also have access to nutritious foods outside those they are farming. By minimizing the use of chemicals , farmers grow better foods that are not toxic to human health. By minimizing pesticide exposure, workers do not get exposed to harmful chemicals which is typical in small farms as they do not have access to protective gear.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

No one can attend school on an empty stomach. And for families to afford uniform and school stationary, they need money. When they harvest more they can sell the excess and afford the education fees. We also aim to empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve sustainable agricultural practices, improve food security, and contribute to the well-being of all. Through investing in education and technology, we are helping to create a future where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe environment.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

We believe that by adopting our farming practices, both men and women can have enough which is a great step towards equality. In Malawi women continue to being sidelined when it comes to accessing technologies. Our initiatives includes training to both men and women. Mostly we separate men from women during trainings to ensure safe spaces for women since men tend to dominate in meetings. We also promote access to information for women since our trainings also include marketing opportunities. This information comes handy post harvesting.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We conserve water through our syntropic agriculture. Farmers that observe this, promotes the biodiversity of microorganisms and the whole environment. Our work also promote sustainable waste management practices, including composting and proper disposal of agricultural waste. These practices reduce water pollution and enhance soil health. By reducing the use of chemicals, we protect our water reservoirs down the agricultural chain.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

We are not there yet but our goal is to be 80% energy renewable on our farms. When we transition to irrigation we plan to be using 100% renewable energy sources. We cover these topics in our training sessions.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Good business is the best business. We are promoting this goal through creating employment opportunities and skill transfers for sustainability. We pay our workers well and they are able to make livings on that. We don't employ children and we make sure that the environment is safe for the adults who work there.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

We are an Agri-tech business. We think of ourselves as a tech business that is in Agriculture. We are innovating on transforming the agriculture sector as far as yield and the environment is concerned. The same thing happened with the green revolution when fertilizers were invented. Yield achieved an exponential growth. That has served us so well until now.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

We train farmers and these are both men and women. We have seen in our work that by empowering women with skills and information, we can reduce the inequalities that exist in the agricultural workforce. We have provided access to the technologies and also market opportunities.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Our syntropic agricultural methods are the best way to create sustainable agricultural communities. Syntropic agriculture preserves soil and microorganisms that help to keep soil healthy. By following our modern methods of farming, communities can harvest more than before and create sustainable communities in food production.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

There is land degradation and soil erosion due to high consumption and production to match that consumption. Using our methods of farming, farmers are able to produce more per acreage which is able to meet the high consumption. And by also incorporating the syntropic agricultural methods, farmers can reduce their over consumption on one crop such as maize and can live on other foodstuffs like sweet potatoes and cassava.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

We help build knowledge in farmers to help them mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in their farming. Our methods are what are called "climate smart practices" as they have been proven elsewhere that they help in reducing the effects of climate change on crops.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

6

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

By using fertilizers and chemicals responsibly on the farms, we are indirectly preserving the life in the rivers and lakes in Malawi. Too much use of chemicals in agriculture affect the life of marine animals due to the increased alkalinity or acidity disturbing the life of micro and macro organisms.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The syntropic agriculture component of our innovation adds to the promotion of life on land especially the microorganisms. Too much use of fertilizers and pesticides degrade and imbalances the microorganisms that nourish our soils.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

With our current practices, the effect to this goal are very minimal.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Currently, we have a very small effect on this goal.

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

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our idea is very simple; increasing yield per acre through two methods. First the use of drone technologies and second the use of syntropic farming. These methods might be so new in Malawi but they are not so new elsewhere. As the technology keeps on evolving we understand that drones and other tools will be able to do things in agriculture that no one thought possible. We are doing soil analysis, plant monitoring and predictive analysis which is critical for yield. It is innovative and new in the sense that it is providing a better and effective way of increasing yield since everyone is depending on more land and more inputs for increased production. The syntropic agricultural methods are not entirely new as the practice is available in some communities in Malawi and we are only adding the science aspect to it. By practicing the methods with a known science behind it, we are able to replicate it across different farms.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors are other farms that grow soya bean for commercial. What makes us stand out is that our methods focus on increasing yield per acre than anything else. When they harvest 20 bags per hectare we will harvest more than that always and they cannot beat that. We use less inputs than them and which means that at the same selling price, we make more profit margins than them.

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

The cofounder of the business is a female. I believe that she can serve as a role model to upcoming female entrepreneurs when the company does well. During our training with farmers we also include gender equality topics which help to empower women both in skills and financially.