University of Cincinnati IIT Roorkee

Paul Donley Kumar Animesh

Paul Gordon Krishna Chaitanya Bandi

Claire Haynack Jubin Mohapatra

Elana Pentelnik Ashmeet Singh

Professor Mentor

Ratee Apana Charles O’Neil

A Sustainable Business Collaborative

Acara Challenge Focus: FOOD SECURITY

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. “ 1996 UN World Food Summit

BACKGROUND

Problem Statement Small farmers in India have

difficulty in cost effective farming due to small field size.

Crops in India don’t grow to full potential because the soil is depleted from over-farming one type of crop.

Many farmers lack knowledge of more innovative and beneficial ways to maximize crop yields.

BACKGROUND

Social Ramifications of Current Farming Methods Farmers are in substantial debt due to

lack of proper crop yield. Indebted farmers have committed

suicide due to the inability to repay their loans.

The practice of raising cash crops has left scarce nutritional resources for the farming families, resulting in hunger and starvation.

BACKGROUND

Solution – The practice of the Three

Sisters planting method is a traditional farming method rooted in Native American culture. It is common in the United States, is not known on a global scale.

The Three Sisters is a symbiotic grouping of certain plants that maximizes yields while replenishing the soil.

SOLUTION

Sister Seeds PlantsSisterSeed’s farming method consists of a mound of soil with the follow plants Corn – provide pole for beans to grow Beans/Peas – replenish soil Cucumbers - natural dirt anti-erosion

system, and protection (prickly vines) Onions- deter pests and bugs

SOLUTION

Charba, IndiaClick icon to add picture

• Population:10,000

CUSTOMERS

Customer Analysis – Charba• Mostly rural farming village• Average family is 10 people• 5-25 acres of land per family• Average farmer buys 50% of seeds each

year

CUSTOMERS

Benefits of SisterSeeds for Farmers

Food security and diversification of food source

Ability to keep cash crop along with food crops

Increases crop yield Replenishes soil for years to come Save money on fertilizers and pesticides Less fear of cross-pollination “Seed loan” option

CUSTOMERS

Business Summary - Mission

To improve the livelihood of farmers in Charba by providing

the education and the resources necessary to achieve

proper food security. We seek to accomplish this by

implementing the “Three Sisters Farming method” and

selling quality seeds in the preferred quantities based on

farmer’s needs.

BUSINESS PLAN

Implementation Plan PHASE 1: Trial Phase

GOAL: creating buy-in and building seed bank.

PHASE 2: Full Scale Implementation GOAL: building customer base,

creating employment, payback investment

PHASE 3: Expansion GOAL: maintain customer base, new

expansion

Trust

Loyalty

Growth

BUSINESS PLAN

Phase 1: Trial Phase Offer trial packets of seeds to farmers

which include educational materials on the three-sisters method

Lease plot of land for seed bank. Create own three-sisters garden on plot of land to demonstrate idea

Employ village worker to maintain seed bank and plot of land

Buy and sell produce for villagers

BUSINESS PLAN

Trail Phase - Brochures Proposed design: a three-fold

“brochure”, image based, on the “How To” process of implementing the Three Sisters method. The interior fold-out will feature a step by step illustration that will visually show planting to growing to harvesting and the benefits of each stage.

BUSINESS PLAN

Sketch-up of Brochure

BUSINESS PLAN

Phase 2 : Implementation

Sell prepackaged packets of the three-sisters seeds (enough for 1000 m2).

Create “seed loans” to farmers by offering seeds at a discounted price in return for seeds after harvest.

Maintain fair pricing structure that benefits both us and farmers (no hidden costs)

Employ worker to run seed bank and increase education

BUSINESS PLAN

Phase 3: Future Growth Expansion into selling other seeds for

farmers Education on other growing methods to

increase crop yield Growth to other cities

BUSINESS PLAN

Initial Investment2,500 USD needed

Cost of trial packets Machinery for seed conversion Cost of obtaining a plot of land Initial seed purchases

FINANCIALS

Pricing Structure Pricing structure incorporates

approximately 15% markup on seeds from the purchase price to consumer sale

Achieved through: Bulk purchasing power Farmers selling back seeds

FINANCIALS

Return on Investment

0 1 2 3 4 5

-$3,000

-$2,000

-$1,000

$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

Return on Investment

Year

Break even after year three Positive cash-flows after year one Largest threat in sensitivity analysis is

customer buy-in

FINANCIALS

SWOT AnalysisSTRENGTHS• Increases crop yield• Employment creation• Food security and

diversification of food source• Replenishment of soil• Trial opportunity for farmers

WEAKNESSES• Getting buy-in from farmers• Maintaining customer base• Little revenue in first year

OPPORTUNITIES• Loan/Micro-financing • Growth to other cities• Expansion into selling other

seeds • Selling produce for farmers

THREATS• Weather patterns and water

reliability• Farmers will reuse their own

seeds instead of rebuying• Low buy-in from farmers

FINAL THOUGHTS

Sustainability

Farmers will need to repurchase at least 50% of their seeds each year to avoid cross-breading (seed depletion).

We can continue to offer competitive pricing through our seed buy-back program

Community presence through seed bank and land lease

FINAL THOUGHTS

Conclusion

SisterSeeds has the opportunity to improve the quality of life for farmers in India through education and the introduction of more sustainable growing methods.

Supporting SisterSeeds will help ensure that food security becomes a reality.

FINAL THOUGHTS

THANK YOU

Any Questions?

FINAL THOUGHTS