Challenge
Approximately 70% of Sierra Leone and Mozambique’s populations are employed in the agricultural sector, growing, selling, buying, and preparing food for their families. However, agriculture is not always a reliable source of income.
Solution
In partnership with Pennsylvania State University, World Hope is producing and distributing Affordable Greenhouses that enable a year-round growing season and reduction in water consumption. These greenhouses can be constructed in just two days at a price point of $500. The greenhouses are durable and last over five years.
Milestones and Achievements
World Hope’s Greenhouses Revolutionizing Output (GRO) project was able to install dozens of greenhouses in Mozambique and Sierra Leone in Year 1 of its participation in the Securing Water for Food program. These greenhouses are actively growing produce and within the next several months, the innovator expects to have nearly three tons of crops. The affordable greenhouses have reached almost 2,000 end users and resulted in more than 770,000 liters of water savings. Based on their first harvest, World Hope estimates that farmers will see a full payback in the cost of greenhouse expenditures in 2-3 growing cycles. Additionally, the innovator is seeing an unexpected fledgling industry of seedling production that is rapidly growing and one that offers the potential to reach smallholder women farmers.
Goals
- Support in simplifying highly scientific and complex calculation methods for tracking and reporting on water consumption and reduction results.
- Review of the innovator’s business model to ensure sustainability and viability going forward. Key questions from the innovator include identifying the most appropriate customer bases, sales and marketing approaches to reach rural farmers, and how to evaluate and select potential partners.
- Guidance on best practices in marketing to bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers and women smallholder farmers. Expand funding sources and make connections with potential investors.
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