Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We are a micro-investment funded, export-oriented goat farming enterprise that seeks to empower rural communities and mature citizens through providing an asset backed and climate-proof investment vehicle that yields foreign currency returns and livestock

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our business seeks to mobilize monthly micro-investments to establish, stock and manage an integrated goat farm that seeks to export goat meat and other goat products. We plan to buy local Matebele goats from rural communities, crossbreed them with imported breeds such as the Boer and Kalahari Red to produce larger offspring. The offspring are raised, fattened and conditioned in preparation for slaughter, grading and packaging at a Halaal certified abattoir in ahead of exportation to market. The hides and other by-products will be supplied to women-led and People with Disability focused enterprises as a raw material to strengthen small scale leather-based value chains. The proceeds of the sale of meat is reinvested into the business and the profit is distributed to the micro-investors in line with their preferred investment tenures. Rural smallholder farmers will be trained and capacitated on sustainable goat farming practices to build their resilience to climate-induced livestock loss

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

The venture seeks to address two (2) major problems in the Zimbabwean society. The first, is that of, eroded formal savings for the mature working population that are nearing the age of retirement and lack of "safe" investment options that are formal and transparent for the economically active population segment. This has led to people risking their savings in unregulated savings clubs (MaRounds) with little or non-existent risk mitigation measures to safe guard investments. People risk losing their hard earned money in these schemes due to lack of affordable formal investment options hindering their ability to have safe savings. The second, is that of limited rural livelihood safety nets in the face of climate-induced droughts. Rural communities are vulnerable to such shocks and have little to nothing to fall back on to ensure food security and income in the aftermath of these occurrences. The current El Nino has seen rural farmers lose crops and livestock and become food insecure.

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. Our venture will provide a safe, transparent and regulated micro-investment opportunity that allows participants to earn high returns off monthly investments between US$50-$100/month, achieving yields of up to 10% Return on Investment within the first 18 months of investment. 2. The investment vehicle is asset backed and this allows investors to use their investment contribution as collateral to unlock finance for personal and business development. 3. Rural farmers are able to gain skills and build resilience from climate related challenges due to the resilient and adaptive nature of Goats. 4. Rural Farmers also benefit through receiving improved breeds that improve the herd's productivity allowing them to either have more food from the slaughter of the animal or higher income from the sale of the improved breeds and their offspring. 5. This venture will allow Zimbabwe to improve its global supply of goat meat and related products, growing the country's foreign currency receipts.

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

The venture has four main customer segments namely, (i) the Investors (persons between the ages of 40-65 able to generate a minimum of $50 in monthly savings ), (ii) Climate vulnerable farmers in the Binga and Gwanda Districts (Mat. North and Mat. South respectively). (iii) Off-take companies that support Goat Leather value chains, women-led businesses, and lastly, (iv) the international goat consumer market which currently seeks approximately 30 tons of goat meat every month.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-10-01

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

6

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

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

Ms. N Majoni- a holder of BA in Media and Film, is a Media professional with 8 years experience in traditional media and filmography. Nothando is the current board chairperson for the registered company. Mr. G.T. Mundende- (Non-Executive Director) MSc in Finance and Banking, has 8 years in Banking with 5 years in Investment Banking. Mrs. V. M. Moyo- (Non-Executive Director) BComm in Sales and Marketing, has 7 years in Digital Marketing and Sales. Mr. Z. Moyo- (Founder and Managing Director) BSc in Environmental Science and Health, 3 years in Investment Banking and 5 years in Goat Farming. Mr. A. Chikoore (Venture Manager) BSc in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, 7 years in Goat Farming, 2 Years in large-scale poultry value chain development. Mr. H.L. Thaka (Finance Manager) Bachelor of Accounts, 12 years in Agribusiness transport and logistics.

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

Our venture will empower low income earners, vulnerable rural communities, Persons with Disabilities, women and youth led organizations to achieve foreign currency earnings and build resilience to socioeconomic shocks. This contributes directly to targets 1.3 (Implement Social protection systems) and 1.5 (Build resilience to environmental, economic and social disasters)

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The venture will directly contribute to sustainable food production given the high reproduction rate of goats as a live asset, in addition to this we will directly contribute to the productivity of small scale farmers through skills transfer and reallocation of improved goat breeds in these vulnerable communities. Our choice of livestock, goats, is highly resilient to environmental shocks, ensuring the sustainability of our venture in light of the climate change developments that are set to impact Zimbabwe This directly contributes to the attainment of targets 2.3 (Double the productivity and incomes of small scale food producers), 2.4 (Sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices), and 2.5 (Maintain genetic diversity in food production)

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

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

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

The project has high potential for scalability. with adequate funding the venture can employ close to 15 full-time and 20 seasonal workers within the first 36 months of operation and it can achieve over 250 indirect beneficiaries within the same time period. In addition to the scalability, the venture is replicable in all provinces of the country further expanding the ventures job creation capabilities. This aligns with target 8.1 (Sustainable economic growth), 8.2 (Diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity) and 8.6 (Promote youth employment, education and training)

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

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The integrated farm model will reduce the waste generated by the venture ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. This is also showcased by the high productivity of goats in a smaller portion of land. This achieves target 12.2 )Sustainable management and use of natural resources) and 12.5 (Substantially reduce waste generation)

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Goats produce less emissions per kilogram of meat produced than larger ruminants actively advancing the national priorities to reduce GHG emissions from the Agriculture, Forestry and other Land-use sector

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.

5

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.

5

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

05.08 Justification

Crowdfunding approach to livestock farming is not a new approach, the utilisation of a subscription model to fund a revolving agro-investment fund at a microlevel is financially inclusive innovation. This approach enables the inclusion of lower income persons to participate in investments adding depth to the national financial services sector. The use of this model to conduct goat farming adds systemic resilience to climate driven shocks to the agricultural and economic sectors through the climate risk transmission channels. The utilization of a data driven approach will lead to the development of goat breeds that suit the Zimbabwean context allowing for expansion of our national herd and increasing our national goat meat export which will increase flows of foreign currency into the country. Data mining and analysis will aid in the management of the livestock and subsequently result in the increased commercialization and automation of the goat rearing process to reduce inefficiencies

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

The main competitors to this venture are traditional goat farms and the National Kraal, a collective livestock scheme, that focuses on cattle production. Our model is different from the traditional goat farming approach because it prioritizes improved meat production and not breeding as a core function. The venture views traditional goat farmers as suppliers of improved genetics through their breeding stock. Our system will prioritize data management to enhance the productivity of the animals under a semi-intensive animal husbandry model. With regards to the national kraal, our competitive advantage is that of inclusion due to the lower investment cost per individual. This enables more people to participate in the venture. Our choice of goats directly contributes to our unique selling point due to the herd's resistance to climate shocks.

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

Yes, through my current studies toward an MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship, Rotaract membership and participation in the Meal Drive, we encourage the participation of female entrepreneurship to address the challenges in the community.