Hysper Bio-Fertilizers Production and Supply to Conserve Soil Nutrients

The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For every kilogram of Nitrogen (N) produced by the synthetic process, 10.1 kg of CO2 is emitted. Biofertilizers present great promise in reducing emissions associated with synthetic fertilizer production and providing nitrogen fixation needed for productive plants. The technological gap in validating this innovation lies in the lack of robust field measurements, which, when addressed by accurately measuring Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), can help develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions, fertilizer runoff, and water pollution. Research may also comprise innovative methods for proving candidate microbes are indeed drawing nitrogen from the atmosphere for direct or indirect crop benefit, rather than mining the soil. 

Agriculture is the main economic activity for over 88% of the people of Zambia. The agriculture sector contributes 47% of Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product and over 80% of foreign earnings come through exports of Coffee, Tea, and other agro-based products. The most commonly cultivated crops include cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize, plantains, and beans.

Though agriculture production has improved in Rwanda over the last decade, it has yet not reached its true potential. 

• • Scarcity of land, which is an outcome of high population.
  • Deterioration of soil fertility and severe land erosion.
  • Very low levels of inputs in the form of either organic manure or other fertilizers.
  • Agriculture is based on rainfall as little irrigation goes on in Rwanda.
  • Low purchasing power among the rural people.
  • Lack of awareness about market dynamics by the farmers in the country.
  • Limited market participation by the farmers
  • Lack of access to financial services.
  • Agricultural advisory services are not easily accessed by rural farmers.

Hysper, also emphasizes on the need to adopt good agricultural practices to deal with the existing problems that the sector faces.  Hysper, identified the following major challenges that the agriculture sector in Zambia currently faces.

Land degradation and soil erosion are among the main challenges faced by agriculturalists: 90% of domestic cropland in Zambiaa is on slopes ranging from 5% to 55%, which leads to soil loss, erosion, and reduced fertility.  It is estimated that 1.4 million tons of soil per year is lost, accounting for a loss of 320.000 US dollars.

• • Land use and distribution: Women in Zambia face difficulties in land inheritance and have insecure land rights, because of which they are unable to use their land efficiently.
  • High dependence on rainfalls: Zambian agriculture is highly dependent on rains and a very low percentage of farmers use any form of irrigation.
  • Low levels of productivity for both crops and livestock: Farmers in Zambia follow inefficient farming practices which results in poor yields.  
  • Poor Processing Capacity: Zambia has a very low share of processed food; as a result, a lot of harvested products get wasted in the absence of proper marketing or value addition.
  • Lack of access to appropriate technology: Farmers do not have access to appropriate technology that can help them in reducing post-harvesting losses.

Hysper is working with the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), the University of Zambia, the School of Agriculture Sciences, and the Extension Agriculture and Environmental Government officers to deliver the products and services. This solid organic fertilizer will be easier to handle by the end-user when fertilizing fields that are far from the Fertilizer Granulator and Bio-digester slurry production points. The most important innovations will be put in place from ZARI, this method is used to solidify liquid fertilizer without losing the quality and quantity of needed nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Coborn Compounds that are required to fertilize the plants. The Biogas industry still has gas on packaging and stove fabrication which will be addressed by this project. To achieve this, we will set up a training center where people particularly youths, will be trained in various technologies that are involved in the setting up and maintenance of bio-digesters for replication. The proposed solution of setting up a biogas production plant is expected to achieve its results at a lower cost to a greater extent. Biogas is going to be the center for solving several problems and will bring solutions like; clean energy, organic fertilizers, skills acquisition, job creation, and income generation. 

Zambian rural communities are practicing nomadic agriculture whereby they deforest farming lands to cultivate crops. They use the land for about 5 years. When it loses nutrients they leave the area barren and move to other fertile areas where they start deforesting the land to start farming again. This is emanating from the high costs of chemical fertilizers, a 50kg bag costs 40 USD as of July 2022. Statistics show that the Northern province is the only area that has not suffered the nomadic agricultural practices though it is already being targeted. Hence, if this project proposal is successful, its implementation will go a long way in helping save the province from deforestation by introducing farmers to this proposed comprehensive climate-friendly package. The project will supply them with organic fertilizers that are affordable to the local farmers. As a result, they will stay in one place, being able to keep their soil fertile and stop deforesting the land which is detrimental to the climate.

Bio-fertilizer contains all nutrients and micronutrients necessary for modern farming, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The projected use of Bio-fertilizers is minimizing the land-degrading Nomadic farming that is being practiced in most rural areas in Zambia, and it will help reduce the overreliance on imported artificial fertilizer, which is currently a burden on the coffers of the nation. 

Hysper has a strong collaboration with the University of Zambia lecturers as Advisory Board Members. Hysper is governed by 7 governing Executive Board Directors with three administrative physical offices in Lusaka, Cairo Road Opposite National Milling, UNZA School of Education, and a Field office in Kapyanga. Hysper's financial framework, revenues, and income are generated from providing business pieces of training, business consultancy, and multiple business products in agriculture. Hysper has 53 employees at five project sites in Lusaka and Central Province. Hysper is registered as a Co-operative Society Limited. 

Mission Statement
Hysper seeks to create sustained growth and socio-economic transformation, driven by resilient businesses that preserve the environment through the efficient use of resources including time, money, material, soil, water, land, timber, and energy.

Vision
To become a top world-class company that best develops business human capacities, value addition, and supply chain experimental techniques for the manufacturing industry.

What We Do
Hysper Youth Enterprise aims to support the conservation and management of forests as well as restoration through investment in the needs of local communities which includes functional local-level management
structures, ecotourism, general enterprises, good agricultural practices, markets, and market linkages.

The overall is to address undress underlying drivers of deforestation by providing alternatives in terms of good practices as well as well as sources of income. Hysper Youth Enterprise ensures that the best possible climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental and biodiversity conservation, enhanced economic productivity, and improved livelihoods.

Our Target Groups
Hysper recognizes that options to reduce deforestation and forest degradation include strengthening and enhancing management and governance of forests at the local level taking into account the
different needs of men, women, youth, and vulnerable populations. Specifically, Hysper has in place core investment priorities 1) Conservation of high-value forest areas, 2) Promotion of resilient landscapes, sustainable agriculture, and energy. Hysper also highlights the importance of gender
considerations and effective knowledge management. Furthermore, Hysper has highlighted reducing deforestation and forest degradation using the landscape approach, thus addressing the competing interests of various land users.

Dr. Kapila holds a doctorate in Agricultural Engineering from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. He has implemented several projects in Africa and Europe and supervised undergraduates postgraduates and post-doctorates. He has authored and co-authored technical textbooks in Mechanisation and food processing, and designed and implemented study programmes.
Work experience: 27 years in Academia and research

Name: Clinton Gando
Work Experience: Clinton has six years of work experience in developing inclusive business models, pioneering innovations and modern technologies to enhance agriculture productivity for rural lower-income populations.
Education: He pursued a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics at The University of Zambia.
Skills: Strategic Guidance, Operational Planning and Monitoring, and Evaluation, has the passion to transform and enhance agricultural practices and energy consumption patterns.

Name: Theresa Makaita Matanhire
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance. The University of Zambia.
Work Experience: A year of experience in managing, implementing, and polishing projects. She ensures proper guidelines and procedures are followed in the appropriate allocation of funds, ensuring smooth daily operation of projects as well as how to access funds.

Hysper Bio-Fertilizers are already on the market and the chemical mural has been approved by Zambia Agriculture Research Institute. Hysper produces, packaging, distributes, and supplies organic fertilizers in both liquid and solid form.  

Hysper has supplied more than 50,000 tons of Biofertizers to 300, 000 smallholder farmers and managed to restore and conserve soil fertility for more the 35,000 hectors. 

Hysper is applying for financial and technical support to upgrade the production of Bio-fertilizers. We aim to replace chemical fertilizers that are expensive with organic fertilizers, which also after conducting some laboratory soil analysis, farmers can know and use the correct nutrients needed by their soil type. Youths and people with disabilities are our focal groups of people to work with in the implementation process. We will ensure women's empowerment because 80% of the households are women-headed, as such empowering them will mean empowering the whole nation in everything, with a high contribution to economic growth. Hysper will leverage Nature Resources Management and Renewable Energy with a focus on innovative and new sources of energy, including the production, packaging, and distribution of biogas and organic fertilizers.

The fertilizer will help the rural farming community to increase their maize production. It will also open up opportunities for horticultural production outside the maize season – slurry irrigated vegetable production.

The introduction of commercial production of organic fertilizers will also stop nomadic agriculture, which is also leading to deforestation when rural farmers clear land for cultivation. The project will lead to the creation of decent jobs for the youths of Zambia. This will positively impact the lives of Zambians as the standard salaries they get will help them purchase health
insurances and above all the payment of taxes to the government means economic growth for Zambia.

Training on aspects of sustainable farming: Master trainers at the training centers will conduct farmer training for the identified farmers. Each batch of trainees will comprise 20-30 farmers and training will be for 6 days. The training will comprise two components viz. theory class and practical learning. The theory classes will be carried out in classroom-style teaching and will be carried out for the first three days, followed by practical field demonstrations. During the field demonstrations, the master trainers will provide practical hands-on training on various agronomic practices to be followed by the farmers to improve their field productivity.  The trained farmers will improve their knowledge of various aspects of sustainable farming and gain skills in following GAP.

• • Understanding the history of the field to identify the most fertile areas and then accordingly plant the most suitable plant for the area.
  • Preparing a clean and chemical-free area before planting crops.
  • Understanding of the local pears, diseases, and weeds.
  • Soil preparation by avoiding soil erosion and compression.
  • Crop rotation and understanding of different crop cycles.
  • Adequate seed treatment, sowing, and planting process.
  • Preparation of seedbeds, setting nurseries and greenhouses.
  • Water conservation and proper irrigation methods are suitable for the crop.
  • Reduce contamination of water tanks and irrigation channels.
  • Use of safe and natural fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides.
  • Periodical observation of the crops for early detection of problems.
  • Preparation of organic manures and ways to prepare them.
  • Suitable harvesting and post-harvesting techniques for different crops.
  • Post-harvesting techniques to ensure that the quality of the crop remains intact.
  • Marketing of crops

Hysper has an industrial Organic fertilizer granulator for community households to decompose and process raw materials from animal and agriculture waste into improved-grade organic fertilizers. Hysper has
collaborated with smallholder farmers in Kapyanga and the community is suggesting an integrated business model including manufacturing improved-grade organic fertilizers using Fertilizer Granulator and Biodigester technologies, generation of clean energy (Biogas) from a Biodigester methane, packing the gas, and fabricating affordable gas stoves for rural households to reduce overdependence on charcoal and firewood.
Hysper recognizes that options to reduce deforestation and land degradation include strengthening local capacities to conserve soil nutrients on yields through manufacturing improved grade organic fertilizers, providing alternative renewable sources of energy, enhancing management and governance of forests at the local level taking into account the different needs of men, women, youth, and vulnerable populations. Specifically, the project team identified four core community investment priorities: a) Manufacturing of improved-grade Organic Fertilizers Using Fertilizer
Granulator and Biogas Plant, b) Off-grid generation energy from the Biogas, c) Development of Water Reticulation System, d) Purchasing and Installation of grain processing machinery for feed and mealie meal production.

Zambia Farming Blocks is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with more frequent droughts, heavy rains, and flooding, rising temperature, land degradation, and reduced agriculture output per yield. Smallholder farmers are cutting trees in search of fertile land for farming and using trees as the only source of energy. 

Zambia is highly vulnerable to climate change due to the overwhelming
dependency on chemical fertilizers and the use of trees for charcoal and firewood. This Project has a framework Designed to Strengthening Community Based Environmental Preservation Solutions using modern technologies to install and facilitate technologies that to produce Solid Organic Fertilizers and Off-grid Biogas Electricity. The project has
a strong component for Green Entrepreneurship through practical Experimental Techniques for Conserving Soil Nutrients and Land Restoration. The project support Green Economy through providing needs for rural communities that promote better livelihoods through youth entrepreneurships in the rural set-up. The project aims to support conservation of soil nutrients in the yields and generate off-grid energy to
restore trees by investing in the modern technologies that will both process organic raw materials into high quality products and services which include off-grid energy, organic fertilizers, good agriculture practices, value addition and market linkages.

To be more specific, this project has a business model that integrate supply chains for more than six commodities that function as a catalyst to create job and market opportunities for both rural and urban populations. The project is inclusive to the lower income Women, Indigenous People, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities either as suppliers of raw materials, producers, wholesalers, retailers, sales agents and consumers with mutual benefits. The proposed project process has forward and backwards linkages between commodities that have synergies in crop and livestock production, energy and fertilizers production, agro-forest production, creating job and market opportunities across the value chains. Charcoal is the main source of energy for cooking for over 90% of the Zambian population. Charcoal production has been identified as the main driver of deforestation and land degradation in Zambia. This has direct negative impacts on the climate. Hysper has a comprehensive approach and has a business model. The envisaged business model of this project gives the farmer/producer greater control of the processes in the value chains starting from the inputs, the production process and the market ready products and in some areas the farmer/producer participates in the retail of the products. In this way, the returns on investments will be higher, which is a key factor in alleviating poverty in the rural farming communities and youth start-ups.

The Project approach is comprehensive and has a viable business model with a huge potential to generate income and create more opportunities across the value supply chains. The project gives the smallholder farmer/producer greater control of the business processes in the value chains starting from the access to quality farming inputs, availability and affordable technologies for value addition within the local area and the market ready for farm products supplying to urban consumers in Lusaka City and Mumbwa Town both at Wholesale and retail prices. In this way, the returns on investments will be higher, which is a key factor in alleviating poverty in the rural farming communities and youth start-ups.This Biogas for Green Entrepreneurship Project has a strong commitment and places a high priority towards youth development and empowerment, underscoring the importance of youth participation in the local Entrepreneurship development. Young people are recognized as a force for transformational change, and investments in young people are a central to achieving equitable economic growth, shared prosperity and reducing poverty. Biogas is going to be the center for leveraging a number of opportunities that will bring opportunities like clean rural off-grid energy, organic fertilizer, youth skills acquisition, expand job and market opportunities in agribusiness for both rural and urban out-growers.

Hysper has 9 Board of Directors who are in charge of governing the overall company. Hysper has 23 full-time experts with experience in various sectors including chemical engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and digital innovations. Hysper has 79 part-time workers and 368 seasonal farmers. Hysper is working with the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), University of Zambia, School of Agriculture Sciences and the Extension Agriculture and Environmental Government officers to deliver the products and services.

Since 2020, Hysper team has been working on the prododucting and supply of organic fertilizers. This project has a strong component for practical Experimental Techniques for Conserving Soil Nutrients and Land Restoration. Biogas The Project intends to address energy and fertilizer needs for rural communities and promote better livelihoods through youth entrepreneurships in Zambia. The proposed project provides a strong starting point by involving rural households involved in agriculture activities. These Rural communities are one of the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Despite knowing and understanding the importance of biodiversity, the Kapyanga is currently witnessing unprecedented loss of biodiversity. 

The proposed project is an initiative to strengthen local community-based institutions to come together to safeguard and conserve the local biodiversity. This damage is mainly due to: a) over-exploitation of forest resources and encroachment of the protected areas as well as uncontrolled forest fires, b) extensive crop production practices especially through slash-and-burn agriculture, c) increased forest conservation for energy, especially charcoal and firewood, d) forest conversion for mining and infrastructural development, and e) unplanned land use that compromise forest integrity and biodiversity.

This solid organic fertilizer will be easier to handle by the end-user when fertilizing fields that are far from the Fertilizer Granulator and Bio-digester slurry production points. The most important innovations will be put in place from ZARI, this method is used to solidify liquid fertilizer without losing the quality and quantity of needed nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Coborn Compound that are required to fertilize the plants. The Biogas industry still have gas on packaging and stove fabrication which will be addressed by
this project. To achieve this, we will set up a training center where people particularly youths, will be trained in various technologies that are involved in the setting up and maintenance of bio-digesters for the purpose of replication. The proposed solution of setting up a biogas production plant is expected to achieve its results at lower cost to a greater extent. Biogas is going to be the centre for solving a number of problems and will bring solutions like; clean energy, organic fertilizers, skills acquisition, job creation and income generation.

We aim to ensure that Zambia deals away with the ineffective energy dependences and adapts to biogas as their source of primary source of energy to reduce deforestation by using climate-smart sources of energy and lighting. To achieve this, we will set up a training center where people
particularly youths will be trained in various technologies that are involved in the setting up and maintenance of bio-digesters for replication. It is not every farmer who will be able to adopt the idea thus, it is going to be our duty to put it into practice in all provinces of Zambia.

The replication endeavor will be funded from the income from the biogas production value chain (gas, electricity, solid fertilizer, silage, hay, hydroponic fodder) and pig production value chain abattoir, meat product processing) and paid green technology-based livelihood skills training
programmes.

Bio-fertiliser contains all nutrients and micronutrients necessary for modern farming, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The use of organic fertilizers minimizes the land-degrading Nomadic farming that is being practiced in most rural areas in Zambia, and it will help reduce the overreliance on imported artificial fertilizer, which is currently a burden on the coffers of the nation. The belief is that setting up a biogas production plant with a view of replicating it in rural households will have a positive impact on the environment by:

1) making the gas available for household uses - to reduce deforestation and deal away with
inefficient energy dependence,
2) improving income generation,
3) using the gas to generate electricity which will require training for the youth and skills acquisition by the youth thus, addressing unemployment among the youth and promoting some farm value addition and manufacturing,
4) using the digestate both as irrigation slurry and solid digestate fertilizers to mitigate the negative impacts of nomadic agriculture on the environment.

The proposed solution of setting up a biogas production plant is expected to achieve its results at a lower cost to a greater extent. Biogas is going to be the center for solving several problems and will bring solutions like; clean energy, organic fertilizers, skills acquisition, job creation, and income generation. The project will start by installing a bio-digester and pig production, and the development of a water source for the bio-digester and pig production.

The crops to be grown as part of the project will be used to make hydroponic feeds that are water, land, and energy-efficient; and they also reduce the need for dry feeds for livestock. A training center will be established where youths of the community will learn bio-digester building skills and replicate them in the society thus, empowering youths and making a significant
difference in the community of Zambia. The proposed project is a complete package that can make a farm and a manufacturing industry function on their own where everything is available from raw materials to value addition for out-scaling. 

Our approach is comprehensive and has a business model. The envisaged business model of this project gives the farmer/producer greater control of the processes in the value chains starting from the inputs, the production process, and the market-ready products, and in some areas the farmer/producer participates in the retail of the products. In this
way, the returns on investments will be higher, which is a key factor in alleviating poverty in the rural farming communities and youth start-ups.

To be more specific, the Biogas for Sustainable Livelihoods and Green Entrepreneurship Project has a business model that integrates supply chains for more than six commodities that function as a catalyst to create job and market opportunities for both rural and urban populations. This project is inclusive to the lower income people either as suppliers of raw materials, producers, wholesalers, retailers, sales agents, or consumers with mutual
benefits. The proposed project process has forward and backward linkages between commodities that have synergies in pig production, Biogas production, fodder production, and solid organic fertilizer production.
This Biogas for Sustainable Livelihoods and Green Entrepreneurship Project has a strong
commitment and places a high priority on youth development and empowerment,underscoring the importance of youth participation in local Entrepreneurship development. Young people are recognized as a force for transformational change, and investments in young people are cardinal in achieving equitable economic growth, shared prosperity, and reducing poverty. Biogas is going to be the center for leveraging several opportunities that will bring opportunities like clean rural off-grid energy, organic fertilizer, youth skills acquisition, expanded job and market opportunities in agribusiness for both rural and urban out-growers.

The 2021 SDG Index and Dashboards Reports, gives Zambia a score of 53.4 and ranks it at number 141 among 165 countries. The vision of the Zambia people is to become a prosperous, middle-income nation by 2030. This proposed project outlines three clusters that include economic growth and wealth creation, social investment and human development and an enabling environment for socioeconomic development. In addition, our Biogas unit project is covering four pillars outlined in the eighth National Development Plan: (1) Economic Transformation and Job Creation; (2) Human and Social Development; (3) Environmental Sustainability; and (4) Good Governance. The 2021 Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021 highlights factors that contribute to deforestation, CO2 emissions, and loss of soil Biodiversity. This is mainly due to: a) extensive crop production, especially through slash-and-burn agriculture, and increased forest conversion for energy, especially charcoal and firewood. In this project, marginalized and disadvantaged youth groups will be supported to participate in economic activities through various interventions that include viable agriculture enterprises. Promoting the use of Biogas units in agriculture as a business.

The most affected populations are rural households and lower-income urban dwellers. The project will be a source of income and income-generating opportunity with backward and forward supply chains to lower-income populations living in rural and urban areas. In Mumbwa, the project
is surrounded by more than 300 neighboring households, these households have an average number of five individuals and are among the five.