Ethiopia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our project aims to mechanize the existing traditional finger millet threshing and pearling process. We manufacture the products at affordable price and we provide threshing and pearling services with our own machines for those who can't afford to buy

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), a nutritious and climate-resilient crop with a long shelf life, is a staple cereal in Ethiopia (known as Dagusa). Despite its potential, processing in Ethiopia remains reliant on traditional methods involving animal trampling and manual labor. Previous attempts at introducing finger millet threshers in Ethiopia failed for three reasons. First, small-scale panicle threshers offered low capacity and weren't favoured by farmers who prefer whole-crop threshing for animal feed. Second, miniaturized threshers were deemed too slow by smallholder farmers. Finally, attempts to use existing threshers designed for other grains fell short because they lacked a pearling compartment, leaving farmers to resort to traditional methods after threshing. These failed efforts highlight the need for finger millet threshing technology, specifically designed for Ethiopian farmers, considering whole crop threshing, pearling, and adequate capacity for efficient use.

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

Traditional threshing and pearling process (animal trampling) of finger millet is very difficult to handle manually as compared to the threshing process of staple cereals such as maize, wheat, and teff. It takes an average of 10 working days to thresh and pearl 13 quintals of finger millet which requires more than 5 up to 10 times of the working days to thresh staple cereals. The proposed project will increase the threshing and pearling efficiency of the traditional method by tenfold, is 2 quintals per hour. In general, threshing, pearling, and cleaning efficiencies will be enhanced by implementing this 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).

Manufacturing of efficient and ergonomically correct finger millet thresher and pearler machine will be carried out under development process. Optimization of the machine by considering different performance parameters will be carried out under performance evaluation of the prototype After the proper production of this medium scale finger millet thresher and pearler machine, the technology will be transferred to the selected target groups after a complete demonstration of operation and maintenance procedure. The mechanization of finger millet threshing and pearling operations will greatly reduce the drudgery of the farmers along with their family members and their cattle. This means no child is obliged to withdraw from their class because of the traditional threshing and pearling operation (by pair of bullocks) of finger millet. Farmers will not be hesitated by the tedious threshing and pearling operation of finger millet after the production of this machine. This by itself motivates.

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

In order to decide the target area 19 years of ESS agricultural production census data was analyzed. From the data, 5 regions produce finger millet annually in the Meher season. The Amhara region produces the largest share. In 2022, 6.3 million quintals of finger millet are produced on 243,448.48 hectare. The same year Ethiopia’s annual production was 9.4 million. In Amhara region, five zones produce finger millet, the same year, the West Gojam zone produce 2,3 million quintals of finger millet, which makes it the hot spot for finger millet production in Ethiopia. But there are There is no active product which serves this need except animal trampling. In general, as a startup business, the project aims to act as a hub for the entire ecosystem, connecting farmers with small scale enterprises, facilitating financing options, and promoting the technology through marketing and awareness campaigns.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-01-01

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 business partner is my wife; she has a diploma in data administration. If the startup business is realized, she will engage full time. She came from a farmer family, and she exactly knows the challenges faced by small holder farmers in the production of finger millet. She has lived with the drudgery and time consumption of traditional finger millet threshing and pearling processes. Finger millet is a staple cereal in her home rural village, and in fact, her rural village is found in West Gojam Zone, The zone produces the highest amount of finger millet when compared to the rest of the zones.

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?

c) Industry (equipment, commercial, logistical and professional services, transport)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The machines can significantly reduce the amount of labor required for post-harvest processing. This can free up farmers' time for other productive activities, such as planting, harvesting, and marketing. Manual threshing and pearling can be labor-intensive and time-consuming tasks that can lead to musculoskeletal problems for farmers. The machine can help improve working conditions by reducing the physical strain on farmers. The machines can help improve the quality of the grain by removing impurities and reducing breakage. This will make finger millet suitable to be processed it into value-added products. This can lead to higher market prices for the grain. Finger millet thresher and pearler machines can help reduce post-harvest losses by minimizing the amount of grain that is lost during processing. This can lead to increased income for farmers. The machine can help increase farmers' income by reducing labor costs, improving grain quality, and reducing post-harvest losses.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

FAO has suggested finger millet as a climate change resistant and nutrition rich cereal to be used in Sub-Saharan African countries as a solution of food security. Due to its special properties and advantages, like its drought resistant nature and composition benefits the world is facing toward the surplus production of finger millet grain cultivars. During COVID-19 the hunger index exponentially grows. In order to solve this problem united nation food program proposes a solution to use small millets due to its potential to become new staple crops, especially in hunger hotspots.

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

There are possible ways to use finger millets with advantages. The first one is to use as a folk medicine for treatment of liver disease, measles, pleurisy, pneumonia and small pox. In addition, the extracted starch can be used in the pharmaceutical industries in the preparation of granules for tablets and capsule dosages.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

echanizing the traditional finger millet threshing and pearling process holds the potential to significantly improve educational opportunities for children currently involved in these labor-intensive activities. By reducing the time and workload associated with processing, children would be freed to attend school more regularly. This shift would not only improve their access to education but also allow them to dedicate more time to studying and learning, potentially leading to better academic performance. Furthermore, reduced physical exertion from these tasks could improve their overall health and well-being, further enhancing their ability to learn and participate in school activities.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Mechanizing the traditional finger millet threshing and pearling process has the potential to significantly promote gender equality within Ethiopian households. Currently, these labor-intensive tasks, requiring long hours and physical exertion, disproportionately fall on men and older boys. By introducing machinery, the overall workload can be reduced, alleviating the physical strain placed on these groups. This shift would free up valuable time for men and boys to engage in other agricultural activities or pursue educational opportunities. More importantly, it would allow women and girls greater participation in the finger millet processing activities, which were previously limited due to the strenuous nature of the traditional methods. This inclusivity can empower women economically by providing them with a greater role in a key household income source. As women gain financial independence and control over their time, it can lead to broader societal benefits like increased education

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

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

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

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

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

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

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

4

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

4

05.08 Justification

In addition to bringing in an existing product to Ethiopia, the proposed product has a unique feature when it comes to the design of thresher, pearler, and concave. These are conical shaped concave and multifunctional thresher arrangement (Rasp bar and Spike tooth), these ideas are identified during a literature survey. These two approaches make the proposed project to be innovative as compared to the existing threshers and pearlers which are available outside Ethiopia. In general, proposed innovative ideas will enhance the performance parameters of the developed product.

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

Currently, no one is engaged in the production and service provision for finger millet threshing and pearling processes.

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

I would like to start from home. I hope that with this fund or with other opportunities, I will have a successful family business soon.