Ethiopia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Develop smart hydroponic systems equipped with sensors to monitor crucial parameters such as nutrient levels,pH,temperature,humidity and light intensity in real time.These systems can automatically adjust environmental conditions to optimize plant growth.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our project aims to transform the agricultural sector in Ethiopia by using innovative and sustainable hydroponic systems powered by artificial intelligence. We believe that our solution can address the challenges of food security, water scarcity, land degradation, and climate change that affect millions of farmers and consumers in the country. Objective: To develop am efficient and sustainable system for crop cultivation by combining hydroponics based vertical farming with AI ,specifically tailored to Ethiopian climate and soil conditions.Changing Weather Patterns and Water Scarcity: Hydroponics inherently uses less water compared to traditional farming methods, addressing water scarcity.    - Soil Degradation: The vertical farm design bypasses the need for soil, mitigating issues related to soil degradation. 2. Technological Integration:    - AI and IoT Integration: Your project includes real-time monitoring and AI-driven decision-making,which aligns with the challenge's requirements

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

Ethiopia is one of the most populous and fastest-growing countries in Africa, with a population of over 110 million people. However, it also faces significant challenges in ensuring food security and agricultural development. According to the World Food Programme, about 20% of the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. Some of the main factors that contribute to this situation are: High initial setup costs: Traditional farming requires a large amount of capital investment for land acquisition, irrigation infrastructure, machinery, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Many smallholder farmers lack access to credit and financial services to afford these inputs. Land scarcity: Ethiopia has a low ratio of arable land per capita, estimated at 0.15 hectares per person in 2018. This is due to rapid population growth, urbanization, desertification, soil erosion, and land degradation. As a result, many farmers have to practice intensive cultivation on small plots

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

1.Up to 50% higher crop yields: By using vertical stacking techniques, we can grow more crops per unit area than traditional farming. Our system also allows for optimal control of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, and CO2 levels, which enhance plant growth and productivity. 2.70% reduced water usage: By recirculating nutrient-rich water through closed-loop systems, we can minimize water loss due to evaporation and runoff. Our system also uses rainwater harvesting and solar-powered desalination technologies to ensure a reliable water supply. 3.Reduced waste: Our system eliminates the losses of crops due to pests, diseases, weather fluctuations, spoilage, etc., that occur in traditional farming. We also use organic waste from our system to produce biogas and organic fertilizer, creating a circular economy. 4.Increased yields: Our system produces higher quality and quantity of crops than traditional farming,increasing the income and profit to farmers

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

The targeted beneficiaries of using hydroponic vertical farming include: 1. Urban dwellers: Hydroponic vertical farming can be set up in urban areas where space for traditional farming is limited. This allows city residents to have access to fresh, locally grown produce. 2. Restaurants and grocery stores: Hydroponic vertical farming can provide a local and reliable source of fresh produce for restaurants and grocery stores, reducing the need for long-distance transportation of food. 3. Environmentalists: Vertical farming uses less water and land than traditional agriculture, making it a more sustainable option for food production. This can appeal to those who are concerned about environmental impact. 4. Communities with food deserts: Hydroponic vertical farming can help provide fresh produce to communities that lack access to healthy food options, addressing issues related to food deserts. 5. Agricultural entrepreneurs: Individuals interested in starting their own agricultural bus

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-04-01

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

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

1.Amirah hayatu:medical radiologist technologist in Addisababa university 2.Abdulrahman shemsedin: Master of SCIENCE-MS, Computer engineering Skills: Artificial intelligence (AI),Deep learning,STEM,Electronics Hardware Design 3.Rihana Hayatu: information system student in Addisababa university 4.Megfira shemsu: Medical radiologist technologist in addisababa university 5.Hanan Usman: Medical radiologist technologist in addisababa university

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?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

4

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

4

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

5

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

4

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Our project empowers women who does not have work yet so they are able to work easy

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

4

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

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

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

5

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

6

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

5

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

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

5

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

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.

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.

6

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.

6

05.08 Justification

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

The targeted beneficiaries of using hydroponic vertical farming include: 1. Urban dwellers: Hydroponic vertical farming can be set up in urban areas where space for traditional farming is limited. This allows city residents to have access to fresh, locally grown produce. 2. Restaurants and grocery stores: Hydroponic vertical farming can provide a local and reliable source of fresh produce for restaurants and grocery stores, reducing the need for long-distance transportation of food. 3. Environmentalists: Vertical farming uses less water and land than traditional agriculture, making it a more sustainable option for food production. This can appeal to those who are concerned about environmental impact. 4. Communities with food deserts: Hydroponic vertical farming can help provide fresh produce to communities that lack access to healthy food options, addressing issues related to food deserts. 5. Agricultural entrepreneurs: Individuals interested in starting their own agri business

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

1. Skill development-offers opportunities for women to develop and enhance their skills in various areas leadership, communication, entrepreneurship, and personal development 2. Empowerment and support : our project offers a supportive environment for women to gain confidence, encouragement and helping them to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.