SIERRA LEONE AGRO-PROCESSING
COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT (SLAPCP)
APPLICATION FORM: COHORT ONE SMEs
Please use this form to apply to SL-Agcelerator. Applications are made subject to SL-
Agcelerator terms and conditions as modified from time to time.
ABOUT SL-AGCELERATOR
SLAgcelerator is the SME Technical Assistance Facility of the Sierra Leone Agro Processing
Competitiveness Project (SLAPCP), a Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of the Government of Sierra
Leone (GoSL) project financed by the World Bank. SLAPCP focusses on providing solutions to key market
failures inhibiting competitiveness of the agro-processing sector and limiting firms and SMEs’
productivity in Sierra Leone.
SL-Agcelerator’s flagship cohort-based program is a 10-12 months business accelerator program for
agro-processing businesses in Sierra Leone. The program is two-phased including:
A first phase (6 months) of formalization, business model development, customer traction and
investment readiness through BDS training, coaching, mentoring, peer learning, networking and
linkage building; and,
A second phase (4-6 months) of matching-grant competition, award and implementation (with a
phased, performance based, disbursement).
Deadline
Apply until January 29, 2021, 23:00hrs GMT by sending your completed form to info@slagcelerator.org
or hand delivered to the project office at 19 Liverpool Street, Freetown (or a regional drop-off point to
be communicated during regional marketing events).
Any submission after the deadline will not be considered.
Selection
After the first evaluations in late January, if shortlisted to the second rounds, we will contact you for a
brief interview to discuss your application. The final results for cohort-one selection will be announced
in February 2021.
1.1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
To apply for admission into SLAgcelerator’s Principal Cohort-Based Programme, an enterprise MUST
meet the following set criteria as a minimum requirement:
SME applicant must be a for-profit private registered entity in Sierra Leone.
SME owner (in the case of a partnership, the majority shareholder) must be a citizen or legal
permanent resident of Sierra Leone, with the project operated in Sierra Leone.
The core business of the SME must be agro-processing. Agro-processing is defined as the
addition of value to raw or semi-processed agricultural produce/material cultivated in Sierra
Leone (crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries, apiculture, forestry) through product transformation;
post-harvest cleaning, grading, sorting and packaging; storage and distribution.
Applicant must have a fully developed and marketed product.
Applicant must not have contravened any existing laws in the conduct of their business.
Applicants with a verified history of non-performance and/or fraud on grant-funding from other
programs will be automatically disqualified.
NOTE:
Institutions with any shareholding by Government or other state institutions are excluded form
participation.
Women-led and women-owned enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply.
1.1 APPLICANT INFORMATION:
Business Name: Malal Agricultural Project
______________________________________________________________________________
Business Address: 2 Falaba Road, Port Loko
Website if any:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Contact Name: Abdul Aziz Sesay
__________________________________________________________________________
Contact Email: abubsesay@gmail.com
___________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: (_____+232 76 854 854__ )Alternate Phone Number: (+232 88 854 854__)
1.2 BUSINESS MODEL
1. What is the problem your business is solving; How (its products and services); and for
Who (target market(s)): (Max 100 words)
All being equal, the proposed cassava farming for garri production is highly profitable and economically viable. It
is going to create jobs for women and reduce youth unemployment. It is environmentally friendly (converting
cassava peel into animal feed), economically viable and ensures continuous stream of income for cassava farmers
throughout the country.
2. Briefly describe your business model (How does your business make money? How
does your business create, deliver and capture value in an economic and social
context? Your business partnerships, channels, etc.): (Max 150 words)
Malal Agricultural Project (MAP) is a privately owned business venture engaging in agriculture value added
cassava production. The main objective of this project is to enhance food security in cassava based farming
systems in Sierra Leone. The project shall install a Garri processing plant in the capacity of 20 tons of Garri and 6
tons of cassava peel per day. The project will acquire further supply of its raw materials from both the project’s
farm cultivation and buying cassava as raw materials form farmers nationwide. Commercialization of cassava and
its diversification into alternative farm enterprises such as animal feed will improve small farmers livelihoods.
This development objective will be achieved through understanding the livelihood systems of the rural
community, provide farmers with training in rural enterprise development and marketing and linking farmers to
readily available market for cassava which will enhance enterprise profitability and thus, farm income will be
increased and sustained. To achieve this overall objective, the project requires the availability of further external
financial resources that will form the basis of the project’s input requirements. This financial investment support
instrument for agricultural development is welcome in any of its forms; including a soft loan, subsidy, grant or
private partnership.
3. What is your current sales strategy? How do you acquire new customers and retain
old ones? How do you intend to reach your market? (Max 100 words)
Most of the cassava produced in Sierra Leone is consumed locally. However, by adding value to the cassava crop
and processing it into a ready to-eat staple like garri, entrepreneurs can earn a very healthy profit on the open
retail market. Noticeably, as humans, animals, industries and biofuels continuously compete for the valuable
cassava crop, the prevailing local market prices will continue to increase. Of all the forms of cassava that can
generate income, garri is the cheapest and easiest way for entrepreneurs to enter and exploit the processed cassava
market. Garri production is a low-cost and largely traditional process and can be done on a small scale. Garri is
ranked next to rice as one of the staple Sierra Leonean diets because not only is it relatively cheap but it is the
fastest way to make money in the agro- processing industry.
4. Describe what is innovative about your business if any (Does your target consider it
innovative?): (Max 100 words)
Cassava peels are also highly perishable and are mostly disposed of by burning or allowing them to rot in heaps,
causing pollution. On the other hand, several researchers have confirmed the suitability of cassava peel for
feeding livestock and the potential of Dried High Quality Cassava Peels (DHQCP) as a good substitute for
maize for all classes of both ruminant and non-ruminant animal. High levels of Hydrogen Cyanide in cassava
peel based products are reduced substantially through the innovative processing where grating, dewatering,
fermenting and sun drying results in reduction of hydrocyanic acid levels below the permissible levels of 100
parts per million. Cereal production particularly maize in Sierra Leone is not sufficient to cater for the growing
demand of food, feed and industrial uses. Identifying alternate feed resources as a substitute for maize would
reduce feed costs and spare maize (to a large extent) for food and industrial uses.
1.3 DRIVE, TEAM AND MANAGEMENT
5. Why do you need to solve this problem described in Question-1 (Why are you doing
this business?)? What motivates you to keep going today? (Max 100 words)
Garri is ranked next to rice as one of the staple Sierra Leonean diets because not only is it relatively cheap but
it is the fastest way to make money in the agro- processing industry. The recent economic downturn due to the
COVID pandemic, the country has seen more households substituting rice for garri. Also, another factor in
favour of the garri processing business is the growth in the population which has pushed the demand for garri
and has also caused more garri processing businesses to crop up in the competition for growing demand.
Cassava peels are also highly perishable and are mostly disposed of by burning or allowing them to rot in
heaps, causing pollution. On the other hand, several researchers have confirmed the suitability of cassava peel
for feeding livestock and the potential of Dried High Quality Cassava Peels (DHQCP) as a good substitute for
maize for all classes of both ruminant and non-ruminant animal.
6. Describe your background/experience with the product/service of your business
(Why should we choose you?): (Max 100 words)
One of the factors critical to a successful outcome of any investment is the proper management of time and
resources. I, as an integral partner to this project, I have a background education in economics, I have many
years of management experience, I have committed many hours in the research of the product, its equipment,
its production process and its management. I am well determined, and I will commit financial resources and a
lot of my time and enthusiasm to breakthrough in this project.
7. Apart from yourself as the business owner/partner, who else in the core team has
enough expertise and relevant experience? Please explain in detail: (Max 100 words)
We will work under the technical guidance of the of the AGSF, Service Chief and in close collaboration with the
National Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security. S/he will be
responsible for overall coordination of project activities, and ensuring full integration of the Project in the
Ministry’s development programme.
8. How much money have you (owner/s) invested in the business? How do you intend to
(re)capitalize (finance) the business? (Max 100 words)
The Project Document includes 1,260 acres of farmland on a 50 years lease contract, valued at Le 3,150,000,000
at current market value. This lease was signed with the community at Malal Village in the Port Loko District.
MAP will be implementing specific objectives in order to achieve the most cost effective and potentially
sustainable way of implementing this project, considering the widespread use of the local resources in terms of
seedlings, land and labour for sustainable development in agro- based industries.
Over Le 100,000,000 have been invested on the already existing 70 acres cassava farm.
9. Have you received any funding in the past/present? If yes, please:
List all funding received so far including any ongoing funding or funding agreement
Specify funding institution/organization and type of funding – grant, loan, equity,
etc.
List amount in full, and terms and conditions
Clearly specify funding period
Note: As part of SL-Agcelerator’s due diligence, all funding sources will be verified
(including with third-party sector market actors). Failure to report any funding,
deliberate attempt to omit or falsify information may result in automatic
disqualification.
No
10. If you answered yes to the above, clearly indicate:
Benefits/impact/growth/added value derived from funding received
Any outstanding debts of payment from such funding(s).
Any unresolved conflict or litigation arising from such funding(s).
(Max 150 words)
Not Applicable
1.3 MARKET, TRACTION AND GROWTH
11. Who are the customers/ beneficiaries (target market) of your products? (Max 50
words)
The primary beneficiaries are resource-poor farmers/producer groups, most of them women, who will benefit
from increased capacity to manage their production systems for higher and stable productivity and profitability,
increased availability of a range of marketable cassava products, creation of local employment opportunities
reducing exodus of young people to urban areas, improved rural and urban food security and livelihood, and
foster healthy production environments.
Secondary beneficiaries include small-and-medium-scale processors, fabricators, commodity traders, consumers,
private sector agribusiness entrepreneurs involved in cassava production, processing, handling, marketing, and
consumption in the cassava subsector who will benefit through increased cassava availability, demand and
commercialization.
12. Is there a significant market need for your product? Briefly justify your product –
market fit: (Max 100 words)
The colour, taste and friability of the garri particles determines it marketability. More so, consumer preference
varies widely due the final product for consumption. Hence, MAP will give due consideration to the consumer’s
choice of quality that will satisfy their needs. More so, DHQCP will be of two (2) kinds: the fine mash (for
poultry, fish, and pigs); and the coarse mash (for cattle, sheep, goat and pigs).
13. What is your competition? Why are you better than your nearest/direct competitor?
What is your unique selling point and competitive edge? (Max 100 words)
Sierra Leone is an agro-based economy and the competition is everywhere. There are many farmers
throughout the country and especially in the South and East who are engaging into cassava farming and garri
production, yet the local and international demand is still high. To thrive in the business as a new competitor,
creativity and innovativeness in farm management, quality control, effective garri marketing and efficient
delivery of dried high quality cassava peel is necessary. The branding and packaging of the garri and DHQCP is
expected to be diligently explored and exploited. The inclusion in the finished product of DHQCP production is
of essence because it creates additional income with no additional cost (in using the same set of machine for
both garri and DHQCP processing).
14. What is the growth and expansion potential of your business? Briefly describe:
Your market trajectory/trends:
Production possibilities – availability of inputs and technology; opportunity cost:
Profitability and economies of scale: (Max 150 words)
A potential market for cassava is in the livestock feed industry. However, the use of cassava for livestock feed in
Sierra Leone is not competitive at the moment because the industry is still under developed. The current demand
for maize in the livestock industry far outstrips cassava as the basic energy source in livestock feed. An
innovative processing technology for converting fresh peels into high quality cassava peel (HQCP) mash for use
as livestock feed has been developed in other countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. The process is simple and
can be carried out by small-scale processors, to transform waste into a valuable feed resource which further
generate other income, create employment, improve livelihoods, and clean up the environment of cassava peel
waste. The various stages in processing cassava peel into DHQCP is the same as in garri processing, such as;
Sorting, Grating, Pressing, Sieving and Bagging
15. Traction to date (Please mention any user metrics, customers, revenue, pilot
projects, awards or similar): (Max 100 words)
The current 70 acres cultivate pilot project started in April 2020.
1.4 SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
16. What problem/need are you solving? Briefly describe the socioeconomic problem(s)
your business is solving: (Max 100 words)
Although there is a wide range of cassava products in Sierra Leone, these are mostly for direct human
consumption. This is because the emphasis on promotion of cassava has been focused in the past for its use as
food. The greatest constraint to cassava development in Sierra Leone is the inability to diversify the use of the
crop as a basic raw material for industrial use. With changing focus from food to market diversification, like use
of cassava in the livestock feed industry among others, there is need to explore these opportunities to diversify
cassava markets. This requires private public partnerships, with the private sector investing in market
development and procuring needed machinery, while the public sector provides the needed policy environment
and physical infrastructure.
17. What is your solution? Briefly describe your solution to these problems and the
market opportunity it presents: (Max 100 words)
The enterprises in which cassava is likely to make impact include processing cassava flour for bakery and
confectionery, processing sweeteners such as fructose and glucose for foods and beverages, producing starch
and adhesives (dextrin) from cassava for the paper, textile, wood and crude oil production, producing crude
ethanol from cassava for hospitals, distilleries and pharmaceutical industries, and developing multiplication
centers for the planting of materials of improved varieties to satisfy the unmet demand for improved high
yielding varieties.
18. Will your business in any way impact (positively/negatively) on the following –
poverty, job creation, women and youth empowerment, the environmental? Briefly
explain how and describe any plans to adapt/mitigate: (Max 200 words)
The lack of well-organized planting material multiplication and distribution system in Sierra Leone is one of the
major constraints to the adoption of improved cassava varieties in the country. Making high quality planting
material of the improved disease resistant varieties available to farmers is one of the potential means of ensuring
high adoption of the released cassava varieties. Production of planting materials is indispensable for
conservation of variety purity and supply of high quality planting materials of preferred high yielding cultivars
to stem multipliers and producers.
This project will create women and youth employment, and extend improved production and on farm value
addition of cassava into garri, and cassava peel into animal feed. It will strengthen the capacity of farmers,
farmers groups and cooperatives to plan, implement, and manage value addition and improve market access for
cassava; and it will identify, appraise and promote entry for cassava as high value farm products in Sierra
Leone.
1.5 ADDITIONALITY
19. What growth and business performance needs will admission into our incubator
program (SLAgcelerator) fulfil in your enterprise? (Max 100 words)
There are many farmers throughout the country and especially in the South and East who are engaging into
cassava farming and garri production, yet the local and international demand is still high. To thrive in the
business as a new competitor, creativity and innovativeness in farm management, quality control, effective garri
marketing and efficient delivery of dried high quality cassava peel is necessary. The branding and packaging of
the garri and DHQCP is expected to be diligently explored and exploited. The inclusion in the finished product
of DHQCP production is of essence because it creates additional income with no additional cost (in using the
same set of machine for both garri and DHQCP processing).
20. What are the key challenges facing your business and what are the three most
important things your business requires help with to reach the next level/milestones?
(Max 100 words)
Funding limitations is usually a greater constraint. With the current financial resources, MAP will need support
from agricultural development agencies such as IITA, Arab Development Bank and other support agencies.
MAP is also inviting more investment from other sources including private individual with the required capital
or loan from banks.
21. What is the justification for the need for support from SL-Agcelerator?
Will the business continue to operate and grow without SL-Agcelerator support?
Describe how the business will be different with and without SL-Agcelerator support
in terms of scale, pace, geography, impact, target groups, products, etc.
What other support options have you explored? (Max 200 words)
MAP recognizes the importance of facilitating development and strengthening of effective producers’
associations as well as facilitating the development of the private agri-input businesses that will provide
farmers/producers groups with access to inputs to support competitive and sustainable cassava production. The
project will facilitate and stimulate access to inputs, credit, improved varieties, information, and technologies
(fertilizer, agro-chemicals, tractor services, appropriated machines, etc). MAP is hoping to benefit from SL
agcelerator by working closely to drive this development, and provision of technical assistance and training.
1.6 COVID-19 & OTHER INFORMATION
22. How have you addressed constraints, and leverage opportunities, related to COVID-
19 supply chain disruptions? What’s your business continuity plan? (Max 150 words)
MAP will promote competitive, more profitable cassava production systems, increased market access and
value-added activities. This will be achieved by disseminating market-oriented technologies and information to
public and private sector stakeholders to transform the crop into stable, consumer acceptable quality, market-
grade products which will enhance income generation, trade and food security and create employment
opportunities, hence contributing to improved livelihoods to the people of Sierra Leone. The Project Manager:
Will work under the technical guidance of the of the AGSF, Service Chief and in close collaboration with the
National Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security. S/he will be
responsible for overall coordination of project activities, and ensuring full integration of the Project in the
Ministry’s development programme. Support staff: Will support the Project Manager to carry out specific tasks
related to the daily smooth running of the project’s activities. This group includes engineers, farm assistants
and hired labour. The contractor-will implement the planned activities that will contribute to the fulfilment of
the project’s objectives. The Contractor will carry out national awareness raising programmes, trainings, and
establish and strengthen linkages between farmer groups and agribusiness service providers, including
identification of private partners who can invest in cassava value adding infrastructure.
23. Have you adopted any form of technology across your business (online sales,
marketing platform, apps, etc.)? (Max 50 words)
The development objective of this activity is to provide market information service (MIS) and market
intelligence on cassava, and other agricultural commodities; inputs, nationwide for use by stakeholders
(producers, processors, researchers, input dealers, product marketers and end-users) in the cassava
commodity chain to enable them make informed decisions that will enhance cassava productivity, incomes and
trade. Although market information is an important component in trading, this service is hardly functioning in
Sierra Leone. Consequently, farmers and many traders are left with little information for negotiation. This leads
to both parties taking risks in trading and the cost of this risk is often born most heavily by the producers, who
accept low prices and consumers who must pay high prices. This also serves as a disincentive to investment.
This will involve collecting price and market data, and processing and dissemination of information to others
associated with the cassava commodity chain.
24. Please provide any additional relevant information not already included in other
sections: (Max 150 words)
An innovative processing technology for converting fresh peels into high quality cassava peel (HQCP) mash for
use as livestock feed has been developed in other countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. The process is simple
and can be carried out by small-scale processors, to transform waste into a valuable feed resource which
further generate other income, create employment, improve livelihoods, and clean up the environment of
cassava peel waste. The various stages in processing cassava peel into DHQCP is the same as in garri
processing, such as; Sorting, Grating, Pressing, Sieving and Bagging.
