UNFIRE - Unorthodox Feeds Innovation for Rural Entreprising Smallholder Farmers.
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Aleph Tav Limited
, ED
, ED
1‐5 years
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
Blessing Mene is the linchpin of our team. His experiences as a Smallholder farmer, Researcher, Chemist & international-award winning social entrepreneur formed the inspiration for this project. Esther Kantiok (Dr) connected UNFIRE with high profile Research institute/Experts to help continually refine our findings. Another team member, Kelvin Ogholi brings together 6 years of experience in Leadership, Farming & Statistics to ensure that our operations are smooth and excellent. Ashbel Ayuba (Avid Agricultural Merchant) & Mene first launched the pilot based on the premise that improving farmers income and productivity & increasing affordability of poultry/livestock can be achieved simultaneously through producing cheaper feeds like UNFIRE's!
Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture, Smallholder Farmers.
Our customers are smallholder farmers like Ayuba who aspire to be key players in sustainable/local food system. UNFIRE plans to reach them via well-established associations of farmers e.g. Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association (NIWAAFA) etc. Each of these associations have between 5,000 – 300,000 farmers registered locally – serving as a credible channel and excellent avenue to scale rapid supply of our feeds.
Quantitative Impact:
• Feeds sold for $8 instead of $17.
• 58 tonnes of waste mango seeds recovered.
• Partnered with JA Farms, Nigeria, West Africa to run 18 months pilot.
• 5,000 consumers were served; 27 rural youth engaged & 10 women vendors employed.
• 100% of women vendors (previously unemployed) generated $65 per week equivalent with minimum wage.
• 14, 400,000g of livestock products over a period of 18 months i.e. 45,000 eggs, 3,070 chickens etc.
Qualitative Impact:
• Positive impact on consumers’ health due to increased consumption arising from lower prices of eggs and chickens – effective protein-rich source for combating malnutrition.
• Waste to wealth – cleaner environment due to mango seed waste collection etc..
• Increased local employment options.
• Women empowerment.
UNFIRE involves the commitment of Blessing Mene, Kelvin Ogholi, Esther Kantiok (Dr), PROVET Nigeria, KO7 Ltd, and National Research Institute. Using the "blue ocean strategy" we shall scale production and supply through private sector commercialization. We are currently in touch with interested private investor(s) and international social investor organizations like The Acumen Fund West Africa, Big players in the feed manufacturing sector etc.
The prize money and publicity will help us attract mentorship and resources that will accelerate our business development and help us reach our goal of developing and scaling UNFIRE feeds into a well-recognized low-cost feeds for smallholder farmers in Nigeria and West Africa.
UNFIRE funding comes from earned income – retaining 56.5% of profit from each unit sold; It costs UNFIRE $5 to produce 25kg of feeds which will sell for $8 – making a profit of $3 per 25kg and $120 per tonne. At our current size, we are seeking grants, competition awards, & private donations/investment to raise the capital (approximately $150,000) needed to outfit a facility capable of serving over 1000 rural enterprising Smallholder Farmers.
Mene has a strong educational/research background in Chemistry. Having previously worked in his family farm for over 6 years this project is well-positioned for success. He co-founded the Jorsey Ashbel Farms (award winning social entrepreneurship farm project) which piloted UNFIRE feeds. He has received national & international awards from UNESCO, London School of Business, Foster School of Business USA & Wits Business School South Africa etc.