Tanzania - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

We provide quality sunflower seeds and services to smallholder farmers to increase the domestic production of edible oils in Tanzania.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

Heshima Seeds was founded to bridge the gap between supply and demand for quality sunflower seeds in Tanzania. First, we engage with local sunflower oil mills to determine their estimated demand for sunflower grains. Working backwards, we estimate the amount of farmland and seed that will be needed to meet their demand. Second, we connect farmers with the oil mills and then provide those farmers with quality seeds and agronomic training. This creates stability in the market and provides farmers with a market for their products.

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

Tanzania is reliant on imported edible oils to meet domestic demand. A global shortage has led to increased prices, and Tanzania has seen the price of a liter of edible oil double in recent years. The government has taken steps to increase domestic production and achieve self-sufficiency with a strategic focus on sunflowers. While there are numerous large and small edible oil factories, sufficient farmland, and willing farmers, the certified seed remains a bottleneck. According to FAOSTAT, there are are more than 1 million hectares of sunflower grown in Tanzania. Each hectare requires 5 kilograms of seed, and we estimate yearly demand to exceed 5,000 tons of seed. However, the African Seed Access Index estimated that only 650 tons of certified sunflower seed was available in the market. Farm-saved seed makes up the remainder, but is produced without adequate quality controls or proper storage and which correspondingly has poor germination.

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).

1. High-quality seeds improve germination, ensuring that a larger part of the field contains productive individuals. Better quality also means less off-type variants, who produce less on average. And, better seeds means an increase in overall yield per plant. Taken together, the farmer harvests more from their field and increases their profits. 2. By working directly with oil mills, farmers are linked to an end market for their product. This way, they have peace of mind when investing in their field and better market information for selling their harvest. 3. By providing training, farmers can employ best practices in their fields, which will improve yields and the efficiency of their farms.

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

Our products and services are tailored to fit the needs of smallholder farmers. In particular, our research trials focus on the exact conditions experienced by the average Tanzanian farmer in Central Tanzania. In addition, we engage with edible oil mills to help them improve the production of the farmers who supply them with sunflower grains.

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

22/05/2023

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 ?

2

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

Hillary Bett holds a BA in Psychology from the United States International University and has five years of experience with East African startups, including tech companies in Uganda and Tanzania. In her previous role as Office Manager, she developed operational, financial, and inventory management systems for a brand new automotive repair company. Sara Shoff hold an MBA from Yale, is a former Peace Corps volunteer, has 8 years of experience in private-sector finance, and an additional six years of experience in African agriculture and agriculture finance. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer of Provenance Capital Group, she built financial and operational systems for the regenerative agriculture finance start-up.

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 :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/heshima-seeds-limited/

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'

5

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

We believe in improving incomes for smallholder farmers by improving their yields and their bargaining power in the sunflower grain marketplace.

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

We produce high quality seeds that are used by farmers and which will ultimately contribute to Tanzania's national food security.

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

3

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

4

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

We train farmers in sunflower agronomy and

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

4

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Our program emphasizes equality and aims to train both men and women in sunflower agronomy.

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

2

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Our philosophy is to provide respect to the farmer. With high-quality seeds and agronomy training, we can ensure that farmers are able to reliably produce sunflowers on their farms and contribute to rural economic growth.

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

4

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'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

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

By reducing Tanzania's importation of edible oils, we directly reduce deforestation caused by the main edible oil import: palm oil. We also thus reduce the amount of edible oil that needs to be transported to Tanzania. Sunflower is also a drought-resistant crop, making it a viable alternative crop during dry years.

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 -pas du tout d'accord

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

1 - pas du tout d'accord

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'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

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.

7 = Tout à fait d'accord

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

5

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

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

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.

3

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

2

06.08 Justification

Sunflowers are grown on 1 million hectares of farmland in Tanzania. Farmers frequently used saved seeds, but desire access to high-quality seeds and improved seed varieties. We innovate by providing farmers with a training service and connecting them to markets for their harvest. This expands on the current system, whereby farmers do not receive agronomic training and are reliant on middlemen to get their product to oil mills.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

We have two kinds of competitors: local seed companies and multinationals. Local seed companies multiply parent seed provided by the Tanzanian public sector and primarily sell an Open Pollinated Variety called Record. Multinationals import hybrid seeds developed under their own proprietary research programs and primarily sell their products to people who can afford the high cost. We stand out from local companies with our focus on research and we stand out from multinationals with our explicit focus on the needs of smallholder farmers.

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

Yes, by advocating for a female majority on the Board of our company, by having a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination in the workplace, by encouraging diversity when recruiting for new positions, and by being supportive of female sunflower farmers.