Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Network of irrigation kiosks that improve awareness to and affordability of locally fabricated solar water pumps offered as a bundle with quality inputs,training and improved market access to enable small-holder farmers increase yields and incomes.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

We have developed solar powered Irrigation sytems that enable our small-holders to irrigate their fields when rain fails or otherwise do extra crop cycles during the dry season by lifting water from e.g wells and rivers while utilising solar energy.Our irrigation system comprises of a 400 watt solar panel ,a 300 watt DC pump,a 1kwh battery,a charge controller,sprinklers,piping ,and a hand-cart for easier transportation to and from farms.The battery enables up-to 3 hour operation even with insufficient sunshine and can run LED lights plus tv set at night while the sprinkler allows automated irrigation.With a water flow rate of 2400 l/h ,and a head of 30m the sytem is an optimized irrigation solution for one acre farm. Our pumps are fabricated at our mini-workshop from locally sourced parts and made available to farmers through a network of irrigation kiosks where we also train smallholders on climate smart agriculture and stock certified seeds , fertilizer and pest control products.

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

Although there is a 40% probability of drought in Kenya ,97% of Kenya's 5million smallholder farmers rely on rainfall for crop production .With increased drought,this results into crop failure/loss of harvest estimated at 10-25% for small-holders who are responsible for 80% of food consumed locally.Diesel/petrol powered water pumps are the dorminant modes of irrigation, these are expensive and polutes the environment while contributing to climate change. Solar powered Irrigation sytems are available as climate smart and cost-effective intervention to help small-holders leap frog threats posed by drought (FAO)but affordability and awareness remain as the major constraints to widescale adoption of this proven intervention that would otherwise increase small-holder yields by 2-4 times and incomes by up-to 6 times in the back drop of drought. Otherwise pests and diases as well as declining soil fetility have been cited as other great threats to agricultural productivity for smallholders.

01.03 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service fourni par votre startup (au moins 3).

Affordability :-Up to 800,000 of 2,000,000 small-holder farmers with access to water source cannot afford irrigation pumps even if payments are made through PAYGO .Apart from selling our pumps on cash and PAYG ,we offer irrigation pumps on rental for as low as ksh.200 for a day of irrigation a model analogous to that available for petrol pumps. Last-mile efforts:-Solar water pumps are available in stores located in urban centres far from where small-holders reside and operate.We bring solar irrigation closer to small-holders by establishing irrigation kiosks right within the small-holding communities where small-holders can access irrigation systems within their reach. Widescale awareness:-Gaps in knowledge on the benefits of solar irrigation by small-holders.Our irrigation kiosks are managed by Commuity sales reps linked to demofarms where smallholders can learn and see for themselves the performance of solar irrigation systems for improved awareness and education campaign.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adresse le produit/service de votre startup. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

Our Target customers are 97% of the 5million small-holders who currently depend on rainfall for crop production .Our typical customer and beneficiary would be a rural family unit of between 4 and 5 people,whose primary source boo income is from farming crops. In addition -They are likely to own land,amounting to 1-2 hectares -The head of the household aged between 35 and 55,is likely male but almost one in three households are headed by women in rural areas. -They grow a mixture of staple crops and some cash crops.Maize and beans is commonly grown accross Kenya ,and in our current locality cowpeas , tomatoes , collards and indigenous vegetables are common cash crops. -69% of the households earn less than $2 a day -The family may have some limited access to agricultural technologies such as improved seed varieties and fertilizer. -They are certain to own at least one mobile handset.

01.05 Quand votre entreprise a-t-elle été créée ?

24/05/2023

01.06 Vendez-vous déjà votre produit/service ?

Oui

01.07 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires de votre entreprise en plus de vous ?

2

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

1

01.09 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre startup (compétences, expérience, etc.).

We are a team of diverse knowledge and experience spanning agriculture, engineering and entrepreneurship. Charles Omondi:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Nairobi and a Certificate in Solar Photovoltaics as well as Welding and Metal Fabrication.He is the Chief Product Development Officer at Agrisol.His roles include leading the Ideation, Design, Prototyping, Testing, and Refinement the solar irrigation pumps. Vivian Adhiambo:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Nairobi.She is the head of Agricultural Extension Services at Agrisol.Her roles include leading the establishment of demofarms and training of trainers(Community Sales Reps) Robert Achoge:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Nairobi and is a Certified Public Accountant.He is the head of business development and accounting at Agrisol.His roles include business administration and accounting

01.10 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

Http://facebook.com/agrisol

01.11 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre entreprise ?

Énergie (équipements, services, énergie durable et fossiles)

02.01.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

According to the United Nations, more than 40% of the world’s population makes a living in the agriculture sector ,many of whom live on less than $2PPP. Socio-economic development is strongly linked to agricultural productivity, and as climate change continues to disrupt rainfall patterns, developing irrigation is becoming a vital tool to combat poverty. With irrigation, smallholder farmers can increase their production by between 2 and 4 times, and their income between 2 and 6 times.At Agrisol we promote the uptake and use of solar irrigation pumps to enable smallholders achieve these targets.

02.02.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

At Agrisol we reduce the irrigation gap with cost-effective solar irrigation systems that according to Food and Agriculture Organization can boost food production and improve nutrition, contributing to Zero Hunger.

02.03.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

5

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.04.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Éducation de Qualité'

5

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.05.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

6

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

By promoting the uptake and use of solar irrigation pumps,our project is anticipated to have a positive social effect on farming communities especially women and girls.In many traditional African communities ,Kenya included, women and girls are tasked with the role of fetching water; a strenuous undertaking if the water source is far away given its implications on health, safety and hygiene. The adequate water supply provided by water pumps not only improves the personal hygiene of women and girls, but also allows them to allocate more of their time to other activities, such as education or food production.

02.06.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

6

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

A reliable and clean water supply is an essential need but a large number of people currently lack this basic provision. Solar water pumps can supply water to locations which are beyond the reach of power lines. Commonly, such places rely on human or animal power or on diesel engines for their water supply (Omer, 2001). Solar water pumps can replace the current pump systems and result in both socio-economic benefits as well as climate related benefits. The water supplied by the solar water pump can be used to irrigate crops, water livestock or provide potable drinking water. At Agrisol we supply solar water pumps which not only provide water for irrigation but also enable them access clean drinking water from wells and boreholes.

02.07.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Solar irrigation is both affordable and clean for the environment.The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) conducted a cost-benefit analysis of 11,000 solar pumps in Kenya and found several advantages for the technology when compared to diesel-pumps. At the household level, replacing diesel water pumps avoided US$ 82 in fuel costs and freed 113 hours per year. Across the value chain, and importantly, approximately, 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year were abated (or US$ 420,000 per year).At Agrisol we promote the uptake and use of solar irrigation systems to ensure that our smallholders add to this statistic.

02.08.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

5

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.09.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovation et Infrastructure'

3

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.10.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

4

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.11.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

4

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.12.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsables'

4

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.13.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Generally speaking our irrigation pumps have a very positive impact environmental impact ,as it displaces the use of fossil-fuelled engine pumps .

02.14.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

3

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.15.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

4

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.16.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

4

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.17.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

4

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

06.01 Un grand nombre de clients utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire au nôtre.

4

06.02 Notre produit/service représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

6

06.03 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

6

06.04 Notre produit/service est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

6

06.05 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

6

06.06 Notre produit/service répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.07 Notre produit/service est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

06.08 Justification

Although solar irrigation can protect smallholders from the impacts of drought,pests and diseases ,lack of skills ,market access as well as declining soil fertility are other great threats to smallholder productivity. At Agrisol we do not just design and develop solar irrigation systems ,we go further understanding that delivering the pump as a single product cannot do much to smallholders.We do not only deliver solar irrigation pumps designed with smallholders hand in hand but we bundle it together with other products e.g quality inputs (fertilizer and pest control products),training on Good Agricultural Practices ,and improved market access for their harvests that together enables smallholder solve these interconnected challenges for improved yields and incomes without much hassle.All these offers ara available at the kiosks available within their reach that acts as a one-stop shop offering them at pricing models that corelate with the purchasing power undeserved smallholders.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

Our competitors include Sunculture and Future Pump. Sunculture:-They develop and distribute a range of solar powered irrigation systems including climate smart direct for 1 acre farm and Rainmaker 2 with climate smart battery for 2 acre farm. Their climate smart irrigation system comes without a battery and has an out put of 1200l/h ,a total head of 30m and sells at Ksh.55,000 in cash or a deposit of Ksh.4,000 and monthly installments of Ksh2,500. Rainmaker 2 with climate smart battery has 440wh that has a battery that can run tv set and LED lights , boasts a water out put of 3600l/h ,and sells at Ksh.110,000 in cash or a deposit of Ksh.6000 and monthly installments of Ksh.4,500. Future Pump:-They develop ,manufacture a range of solar powered irrigation systems including SE1 and SF2 . SE1 has a water out put of 1800l/h ,a total head of 15m ,a horizontal discharge of 500m and sell at Ksh.73,000 in cash. SF2 has a water out put of 3600 l/h ,a head of 15m and sells for Ksh.92,000.

11.05 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes entrepreneurs ?

The horticulture industry has been singled out as one that contributes substantially to the impressive growth for enterprises in the agriculture sector. The horticulture industries involve men and women at different levels and in different ways in both urban and rural areas. These enterprises employ 70% women who are either unskilled or semiskilled and are employed on a casual basis or on short seasonal contracts (FPEAK, 2011). Irrigation promotes the cultivation of high value horticultural crops e.g vegetables which require constant water supply not achievable with the current weather patterns.