Monday, October 10, 2011
construction permit will soon be online
In a move to be more transparent and efficient the City Council of Nairobi is planning on issuing construction permits online. It means you will not need to go to city hall anymore to facilitate the process thus cutting on middle men and corrupt officials. You will also be able to pay for the license using mobile money transfer services.
if this happens then we will be moving in the right direction.
Monday, September 5, 2011
THE NEXT BIG THING-SUGAR OR IS IT?
No Sugar Please, We’re Healthy!
The ravaging drought prevailing in Africa and Kenya in particular has adversely affected agricultural production. Altered weather patterns have distorted the thermal structures of the upper atmosphere resulting in drastic reduction of an already erratic rainfall regime, a phenomenon directly related to global warming. A quick visit to major supermarkets in the Kenya capital will reveal an acute shortage of maize flour and sugar, two features of the local diet.
As families adjust their eating habits in these dire times, a new scenario is likely to arise. People will settle down to sugar-free diet or use natural sweeteners, citing several health benefits and significant financial savings. On the other end of the spectrum, the sugar industry (made up of farmers, processors, distributors, retailers) will survive the shortage by reducing or shutting down operations raising sugar prices and laying off staff. The shortfall is likely to be met by cheap imports which have generated endless wrangling within the political class.
While the circus continues, the Kenyan consumer must focus on a hitherto ignored angle on the debate. Sugar, as it has been said, serves absolutely no nutritional value to the body.
Policy makers must identify, recognize and innovate for lasting solutions to the perpetual food crisis. Citizens must continue demand better governance characterized by the departure from endless blame game and political squabbles, to an integrated approach at tackling bottlenecks in commerce and industry.
The private sector must continue to generate healthy competition by providing consumers with alternatives such as natural sweeteners, for as long as the sugar industry is dominated by inefficient processors and importers, citizen will never be free from the stranglehold of runaway price controls.
Our health sector must also strongly voice out warnings on the increase in obesity, diabetes, cancer and cardio-vascular complications. ‘A nation is as strong as the health of its citizens’ is a critical mission statement for any national healthcare plan that strategically employs preventative approach. Citizens must be empowered to make informed choices.
In the meantime as I write this I am enjoying a cup of tea.
Yes, without any sugar.
http://ademite.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/no-sugar-please-were-healthy/
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Organic Fertilizer-The Answer to High Fertilizer Prices
Farmers have been grappling with high input prices over the years. Of note though has been the price of fertilizer that has been increasing each year. The fluctuating price of petrol has not helped it either as farmers have found farming costs not matching the output.
One form of fertilizer though is bound to change the setting for good if well received by farmers. Liquid organic fertilizer said to be much cheaper and good for the soil unlike the famous DAP. Twenty liters of this fertilizer is enough to spray 5 acres of land. One liter the fertilizer goes for 300 shillings only. If you do the calculations well you will notice that 6 thousand shillings is enough to serve a whole five acres something that cannot be compared to the price of DAP.
The Auto Booster works well in all crops from wheat, maize to tea. One great advantage with this fertilizer is the fact that it does not acidify the soil like DAP or the other chemical fertilizers do. It also has fungicide effects in it as it helps crop be resistant to maize streak, plight and frost.
A total of 8 liters of the fertilizer will be enough to cover a one acre piece of land both for the initial application and top dressing. A farmer will there need only 2,400 shillings in cost for fertilizer and they will be covered for the entire season.
The fertilizer which is extracted from plant extract is manufactured locally by Ngariet Limited.
If farmers get this new variety of fertile then we will be well on our way to solve the high food prices we face every yea.
One form of fertilizer though is bound to change the setting for good if well received by farmers. Liquid organic fertilizer said to be much cheaper and good for the soil unlike the famous DAP. Twenty liters of this fertilizer is enough to spray 5 acres of land. One liter the fertilizer goes for 300 shillings only. If you do the calculations well you will notice that 6 thousand shillings is enough to serve a whole five acres something that cannot be compared to the price of DAP.
The Auto Booster works well in all crops from wheat, maize to tea. One great advantage with this fertilizer is the fact that it does not acidify the soil like DAP or the other chemical fertilizers do. It also has fungicide effects in it as it helps crop be resistant to maize streak, plight and frost.
A total of 8 liters of the fertilizer will be enough to cover a one acre piece of land both for the initial application and top dressing. A farmer will there need only 2,400 shillings in cost for fertilizer and they will be covered for the entire season.
The fertilizer which is extracted from plant extract is manufactured locally by Ngariet Limited.
If farmers get this new variety of fertile then we will be well on our way to solve the high food prices we face every yea.
Friday, August 12, 2011
HERE LIES A SOLUTION TO THE HIGH MAIZE PRICES
Are you making noise about GMO maize in Kenya, then this should make you wail.
The Kenya seed companies are reaping farmers while the ministry of agriculture and KARI watches. The need for profits from sell of maize seed contributes to the cost of maize production in the country. The high maize seed price however is nothing compared to the secret terminator gene that seed companies are using to hinder maize produce unsuitable for seed use. The seed companies induce a gene in their seed varies that makes any produce from their seeds to be infertile meaning you cannot use them as seed for the next season something you would comfortable do save for the induced gene.
Despite this big conspiracy, the good researchers at KARI came up with a maize variety KSTP-94 that has no terminator gene and is therefore not barren. The trick is to harvest the maize from the center of the farm once you plant this variety and store it for use as seed in the next season. The onus of picking the maize from the center is to avoid picking the side maize that might have been pollinated from maize from your neighbor’s farm thus not pure for seed quality.
The strange thing though that makes one wonder is the laxity of the ministry of Agriculture to tell farmers about these seed variety by KARI and also avail it in the market in mass.
There is a lot that can be done in Kenya to alleviate the daily blunders called “National Disasters” the cash cow of RED CROSS and other NGO’s.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Dog Rearing In Kenya
For those who don't understand the trade this might sound funny but wait until you sell that one dog for over 25 thousands kenya shilings. Thats when you will start to view this whole thing diffrentlly. Its time to dip your fimger in almost anything to make that extra cash. So dont seat there and and keep sheep when the price of a mature German shepard beats that of sheep four times or even more.
The following breeds are what you should be looking at if you intend to venture in the business German Shepherds, Dobberman, Papillions,and Chihuahuas.
The following breeds are what you should be looking at if you intend to venture in the business German Shepherds, Dobberman, Papillions,and Chihuahuas.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Rabbit Farming -the farming fad in Kenya
Let me interest you with what the farmers are saying out here about rabbit farming. Well they are not talking much but rather collecting the cash to the bank They are also saying it is paying better than poultry farming. that should be the reason for you to head on to that shamba of your and do something about minting this money.
The investment in this project will be very minimal as all you need to put up is a good structure to house the rabbits and find the food. Getting food should not be hard as mama mboga will have to be your partner here and they will be glad to have someone help them dispose off the dirt even if they wont the thing is you will find food much easily if you walk to the nearest vegetable vendor.
The area required to build the house is much smaller compared to poultry. You also get more rabbitlings if there is anything like that.
Farmers that are in this field say nice mature rabbits breeds sell for Kshs.5,000.00 and bunnies between 2-3 months go for Kshs.3,000.00. The trick though is understanding the process of rabbit rearing from the go and not just acquiring good breeds.
The market is largely the big hotels that have of late taken up serving rabbits meals. The best way to go about it is to establish the availability of a market before you embark on the business.
More on rabbit farming
The investment in this project will be very minimal as all you need to put up is a good structure to house the rabbits and find the food. Getting food should not be hard as mama mboga will have to be your partner here and they will be glad to have someone help them dispose off the dirt even if they wont the thing is you will find food much easily if you walk to the nearest vegetable vendor.
The area required to build the house is much smaller compared to poultry. You also get more rabbitlings if there is anything like that.
Farmers that are in this field say nice mature rabbits breeds sell for Kshs.5,000.00 and bunnies between 2-3 months go for Kshs.3,000.00. The trick though is understanding the process of rabbit rearing from the go and not just acquiring good breeds.
The market is largely the big hotels that have of late taken up serving rabbits meals. The best way to go about it is to establish the availability of a market before you embark on the business.
More on rabbit farming
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Watermelon is Replacing Maize in Nyanza.
One well grown water melon can fetch close to 150 shillings or higher depending on the market. With this price and given the numbers that are produced per stem you will be laughing your way to the bank if you have optimum produce. The trick then will be to find the right seeds and Kenya Seed will not fail you on this.
The Rise of British American and the IPO
The beauty of reading about the rise of some of the very best in the business world is the mitivation you receive to begin small. Dispite the odds, perisitence and deternimation alone are ...for those who went to the African Govenment School, please finish for me.. The story of the rise of BA to the emminent IPO will inspire you. Read along the interview of the CEO Mr. Wairegi who has seen it through think and thin to it's current position..
An Idiots Guide to Making Money Online
A Nitwits guide on How to make Money on the Internet
salim makes this sound a lil silly and personal too but in between the lines is the posibility to make liquid cash liek childs play.Think yourself like like the Idiot he portrays and you will be supprised what will come your way.Dont go to the expteme of nude photos and sex though, be original.
There is a new business that is proving a success in recent times in Kenya. Online WhoreVertising. This is the Total loss of any ounce of Dignity to make sure you get some few losers to open your site and, hopefully, click on some Ads. Then get paid by the buggy Ad Systems we have.
Allow me to address you as an Idiot for a while. Assuming you are not. I will address you in the first-person’s perspective, my nitwit reader, so read-along.
salim makes this sound a lil silly and personal too but in between the lines is the posibility to make liquid cash liek childs play.Think yourself like like the Idiot he portrays and you will be supprised what will come your way.Dont go to the expteme of nude photos and sex though, be original.
There is a new business that is proving a success in recent times in Kenya. Online WhoreVertising. This is the Total loss of any ounce of Dignity to make sure you get some few losers to open your site and, hopefully, click on some Ads. Then get paid by the buggy Ad Systems we have.
Allow me to address you as an Idiot for a while. Assuming you are not. I will address you in the first-person’s perspective, my nitwit reader, so read-along.
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Solution to Youth Unemployment Lies in Agriculture
As businesses rush to do all the matter of facts, most of them forget that they need to eat to perform like humans. The game changer in the African busienss market remains to be food productuion and processing. These two interconnected areas are what the African Youth should be inevesting in. Like this article that was adopted from the Daily Nation of June 30th 2011.African leadesrs should change their strategy on youth employment and shift to agriculture as much as they conecenterate on technology.
This week, African leaders and heads of state are gathering in Equatorial Guinea’s capital, Malabo, to discuss the state of affairs in Africa and the role of young people and their contribution to long-term development in the continent.
There are more young people in Africa than ever before — over two-thirds of the continent’s one billion people are under 30.
Despite increased migration to cities, most of Africa’s young people still live in rural areas. And most, whether rural or urban, are unemployed.
To build a continent where people can work and live with a degree of prosperity, we must invest more resources in the land — and in the young who live there. Together, these are Africa’s greatest assets.
Seven out of 10 Africans earn their living by farming. It is the backbone of most of our economies. The market for African staple foods like maize, milk, meat, banana, sorghum, rice and millet is estimated at over $150 billion a year.
This market is far larger than the export market for internationally traded African cash crops like coffee, tea, and flowers.
Yet, even at this critical time of high unemployment, farming is not receiving the attention it needs to create jobs.
Agriculture remains a small-scale, rain-fed, low-tech, low-input, and low-output enterprise. For the most part, farming practices haven’t changed in generations.
Lack of support to improve productivity and bring innovation into the sector has, in many ways, pushed our young people away from business opportunities in agriculture and into more attractive sectors like information and communication technology or finance.
The ICT and mobile phone revolution occurring across Africa, and the millions of jobs that opened up as a result, highlight the transformative role the continent’s youth can play in development.
Using some of these technologies, our young farmers can play a transformative part.
To make agriculture attractive to the young, it needs greater resources — for education, infrastructure, for improving the business environment, and for agriculture in ways that will raise incomes and expand the agricultural value chain.
The viability of African agriculture relies on the action of people at all levels. But leaders should do more to spur private-sector participation in farms of different sizes as well as in agro-processing and support services such as finance and machinery-rental services.
It is not tenable that agriculture that employs 70 per cent of Africa’s population, accounts for 35 per cent of GDP and 40-50 per cent of exports, but receives barely 2 per cent of commercial bank lending.
African governments should do everything possible to provide adequate budgetary resources and put in place financial mechanisms that will mobilise internal resources and direct them to this important sector of the economy.
One key need is investment in higher education — not just in agricultural sciences, but for training in business, marketing, finance, policymaking and engineering, to create new generations of professionals who can build Africa’s agro-industrial capacity.
This should include a major focus on technical institutes that produce mid-level technicians.
We must also invest in transport and ICT infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and build trade across the continent. At present, it is often cheaper to import from faraway continents than neighbouring countries.
Non-tariff trade barriers have slowed regional trade within Africa even as the continent imports a growing percentage of its food from the rest of the world.
These have to be removed. The feeding of Africa is a huge market opportunity; one that can create millions of badly needed jobs
This week, African leaders and heads of state are gathering in Equatorial Guinea’s capital, Malabo, to discuss the state of affairs in Africa and the role of young people and their contribution to long-term development in the continent.
There are more young people in Africa than ever before — over two-thirds of the continent’s one billion people are under 30.
Despite increased migration to cities, most of Africa’s young people still live in rural areas. And most, whether rural or urban, are unemployed.
To build a continent where people can work and live with a degree of prosperity, we must invest more resources in the land — and in the young who live there. Together, these are Africa’s greatest assets.
Seven out of 10 Africans earn their living by farming. It is the backbone of most of our economies. The market for African staple foods like maize, milk, meat, banana, sorghum, rice and millet is estimated at over $150 billion a year.
This market is far larger than the export market for internationally traded African cash crops like coffee, tea, and flowers.
Yet, even at this critical time of high unemployment, farming is not receiving the attention it needs to create jobs.
Agriculture remains a small-scale, rain-fed, low-tech, low-input, and low-output enterprise. For the most part, farming practices haven’t changed in generations.
Lack of support to improve productivity and bring innovation into the sector has, in many ways, pushed our young people away from business opportunities in agriculture and into more attractive sectors like information and communication technology or finance.
The ICT and mobile phone revolution occurring across Africa, and the millions of jobs that opened up as a result, highlight the transformative role the continent’s youth can play in development.
Using some of these technologies, our young farmers can play a transformative part.
To make agriculture attractive to the young, it needs greater resources — for education, infrastructure, for improving the business environment, and for agriculture in ways that will raise incomes and expand the agricultural value chain.
The viability of African agriculture relies on the action of people at all levels. But leaders should do more to spur private-sector participation in farms of different sizes as well as in agro-processing and support services such as finance and machinery-rental services.
It is not tenable that agriculture that employs 70 per cent of Africa’s population, accounts for 35 per cent of GDP and 40-50 per cent of exports, but receives barely 2 per cent of commercial bank lending.
African governments should do everything possible to provide adequate budgetary resources and put in place financial mechanisms that will mobilise internal resources and direct them to this important sector of the economy.
One key need is investment in higher education — not just in agricultural sciences, but for training in business, marketing, finance, policymaking and engineering, to create new generations of professionals who can build Africa’s agro-industrial capacity.
This should include a major focus on technical institutes that produce mid-level technicians.
We must also invest in transport and ICT infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and build trade across the continent. At present, it is often cheaper to import from faraway continents than neighbouring countries.
Non-tariff trade barriers have slowed regional trade within Africa even as the continent imports a growing percentage of its food from the rest of the world.
These have to be removed. The feeding of Africa is a huge market opportunity; one that can create millions of badly needed jobs
Tips on How to Build an Audience When Blogging
Some bloggers think that all they need to do is create content and they leave it that. They forget that just like a music shop they need to have some form of strategy to pull an audience to there blogs. If you write it…will they come? That is the question and the answer is .Not if you don’t take steps to get your blog in front of an audience. It’s not enough to put your blog in front of a lot of people-it has to be the right people.
Like charity, let it begin at home. Get your blog off to a strong start by making connections with other bloggers. The blog-sphere is your home and or family. Just like in a home not all siblings will like you the same. You therefore need to choose those you want to confide in. This calls for being selective but not discriminative.
Start small, look for mid-sized, established blogs that are going after the same audience you’re writing for. These will be people who would be interested in what you write about. Link to them on your blogroll, and refer to them in some of your posts. A good number of bloggers keep careful track of who’s linking to them, and they’re likely to visit your blog and make comments if they see they’re getting traffic from you. If they like your blog, they may return the favor by linking to you-and then their audience will find you.
In doing all this keep in mind that smaller blogs are more likely to honor reciprocal links and be open to making connections with you than blogs well established blogs with a huge following.
Like charity, let it begin at home. Get your blog off to a strong start by making connections with other bloggers. The blog-sphere is your home and or family. Just like in a home not all siblings will like you the same. You therefore need to choose those you want to confide in. This calls for being selective but not discriminative.
Start small, look for mid-sized, established blogs that are going after the same audience you’re writing for. These will be people who would be interested in what you write about. Link to them on your blogroll, and refer to them in some of your posts. A good number of bloggers keep careful track of who’s linking to them, and they’re likely to visit your blog and make comments if they see they’re getting traffic from you. If they like your blog, they may return the favor by linking to you-and then their audience will find you.
In doing all this keep in mind that smaller blogs are more likely to honor reciprocal links and be open to making connections with you than blogs well established blogs with a huge following.
Tweet Your Way to the Bank
We all know twitter or do we. If we really did then we would have also known that it has a whole new meaning to social networking. Twitter was basically coined as a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, short messages. Guys write to each other short updates, referred as “tweets” that are supposed to be 140 characters or less. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.
Twitter is a great tool since it allows you access to real-time information from companies or individuals that you may not have had access to otherwise. On Twitter you can follow your favorite people or companies and see what they are doing, saying or how they are engaging their followers/customers.
The juicy thing about twitter is the potential to grow your community of followers. People will more often than not follow you is your tweets have some relevance in them; this could be valuable information or entertainment. When you tweet as an individual it is your personal brand that is the persona and it can serve as support profile for your business. You could also tweet as a business and harness the same benefits that you would as a person. Tweeting as a business will however require some social media strategy and not just blanket tweeting
Twitter is a great tool since it allows you access to real-time information from companies or individuals that you may not have had access to otherwise. On Twitter you can follow your favorite people or companies and see what they are doing, saying or how they are engaging their followers/customers.
The juicy thing about twitter is the potential to grow your community of followers. People will more often than not follow you is your tweets have some relevance in them; this could be valuable information or entertainment. When you tweet as an individual it is your personal brand that is the persona and it can serve as support profile for your business. You could also tweet as a business and harness the same benefits that you would as a person. Tweeting as a business will however require some social media strategy and not just blanket tweeting
Get Free Advertising with a FaceBook Business Page
Getting to your potential clients is now much easier than you imagine. Coming up with a public profile on Facebook will enable you to promote your business to more than 150,000,000 million people online. Compared to MySpace or any other social network, a business profile page on Facebook is different from a personal page and creating one is easy and will take very little of your time. You can encourage people to take interest in your product, and this allows you to constantly be in their facewithout seeming pushy.
Advertising: Most social networking sites gives businesses free advertising platforms that if used well could out do the paid ones.
Pages: Creating a page gives your business a chance to have its own identity separate from yours. Here your ‘fans’ can join to see advertising for new products , updates, or just see the latest businesses trends in your line.
Facebook Share: There are a number of widgets that you can place on your site that will integrate it with FaceBook. You can add a ‘share’ link to your website this will give your visitors easy time to spread the word in case they find the need to.
Advertising: Most social networking sites gives businesses free advertising platforms that if used well could out do the paid ones.
Pages: Creating a page gives your business a chance to have its own identity separate from yours. Here your ‘fans’ can join to see advertising for new products , updates, or just see the latest businesses trends in your line.
Facebook Share: There are a number of widgets that you can place on your site that will integrate it with FaceBook. You can add a ‘share’ link to your website this will give your visitors easy time to spread the word in case they find the need to.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
KRA pin checker
KRA - Notices
Kenya Revenue Authority has introduced an online facility for Personal Identification Number (PIN) and Tax ... www.kra.go.ke/notices/pin-checker.html and. http://www.kra.go ...
www.kra.go.ke/notices/pin-tcc-notice.html
Kenya Revenue Authority has introduced an online facility for Personal Identification Number (PIN) and Tax ... www.kra.go.ke/notices/pin-checker.html and. http://www.kra.go ...
www.kra.go.ke/notices/pin-tcc-notice.html
The KRA Tax Compliant Certificate Checker
It is now simple to check the authenticity of the KRA PIN certificate presented to you. Get online and the rest will be a breeze.
Kenya Revenue Authority developed a tax compliance certificate TCC checker in February 2011.
The TCC checker hosted on the KRA website can be used by persons seeking to authenticate and validate Tax compliance certificates.
All entities that require presentation of TCCs by persons doing business with them should use the TCC checker to counter check the authenticity and validity of the certificates
The TCC Checker is accessible at: www.kra.go.ke/notices/tcc-checker.html
Kenya Revenue Authority developed a tax compliance certificate TCC checker in February 2011.
The TCC checker hosted on the KRA website can be used by persons seeking to authenticate and validate Tax compliance certificates.
All entities that require presentation of TCCs by persons doing business with them should use the TCC checker to counter check the authenticity and validity of the certificates
The TCC Checker is accessible at: www.kra.go.ke/notices/tcc-checker.html
World Summit Youth Awards Accepting Submissions!
If you are a bloger and think you are doing something that helps further the millennium Development Goal then this is your time to give your course the leap it so deservedly requires.let your efforts be propelled to the next level.
The World Summit Youth Awards is inviting young designers, writers, journalists, and social entrepreneurs to showcase their e-content and technological ingenuity. This annual award provides a network for young people using the internet, mobile phones or other digital media to put the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into action. Whether you are using websites to fight diseases, digital imaging to battle hunger, or social media to help protect the environment, you can help share your knowledge and ideas to empower young people. Spread the word and together we can connect youth to build stronger local, national and global communities. The deadline for registration is July 15th, 2011. We are looking forward to your submissions!
http://www.youthaward.org/
The World Summit Youth Awards is inviting young designers, writers, journalists, and social entrepreneurs to showcase their e-content and technological ingenuity. This annual award provides a network for young people using the internet, mobile phones or other digital media to put the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into action. Whether you are using websites to fight diseases, digital imaging to battle hunger, or social media to help protect the environment, you can help share your knowledge and ideas to empower young people. Spread the word and together we can connect youth to build stronger local, national and global communities. The deadline for registration is July 15th, 2011. We are looking forward to your submissions!
http://www.youthaward.org/
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Our own “Orly” Airport -Wilson has a competitor
Many will have followed with keen interest over past eight years the development of a Recreational Airfield at Olooloitikosh - or “Orly” - as it is affectionately dubbed. The facility, in which the Aero Club is a shareholder, has grown in leaps and bounds. Fifteen hangars, seven houses, an airport lounge and a runway have been completed on 240 acres of land, and much more is planned. The airport is being used by sport aviation enthusiasts, skydivers, microlights and gyrocopters, as well as for flight training. A second runway is under construction and will be commissioned soon.
(The name "Orly" come after the Orly airport in Paris, France)
(The name "Orly" come after the Orly airport in Paris, France)
Turn Your Blog into a Book
Next time someone asks "How can I print my blog?" send them to Blog2Print. With a couple of clicks, you choose a cover, the posts you'd like to include, and you're on your way to creating your own Blog Book!
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Cover
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Number and Order of Posts
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http://blogspot.sharedbook.com/blog2print/googleblogger/index.html
You pick
Cover
Images
Number and Order of Posts
Comments
Always Free Shipping!
http://blogspot.sharedbook.com/blog2print/googleblogger/index.html
Small Investors, Isiolo is Yours to Take Now-Before The Big Boys Run a Riot
Opportunity strikes only when your eyes and ears are sharp. Its time to venture out and Isiolo is beckoning.
Investors flock to Isiolo as Vision upgrade looms
Investors are taking positions to gain from the projects planned for Isiolo town under the Vision 2030 development blueprint, with the rehabilitation of the airstrip attracting developers for residential and leisure facilities.
Vision 2030 board member Peter Gakunu said ample land in Isiolo and Nyambene towns had attracted proposals for establishment of resort centres by private developers.
“As the rehabilitation of the Airport progresses, investors are angling themselves to erect houses and hotels as well as other recreation facilities,” he said.
So intense is the land speculation in the area that within two years a quarter piece of land has jumped from Sh15, 000 to Sh150, 000.
The opening up of the area, which is earmarked to be a resort city in the Las Vegas mould under the Vision 2030, will enhance other sectors such as agriculture, banking, housing and art work. The resort centre will be complete with casinos, international filming facilities and all the trappings of lavish living money can buy. The upgrading work on the airstrip involves expansion of the runway, building of taxiways, aprons, passenger terminus and cargo terminus.
Other amenities include parking areas, a fire station, meteorological centre, hangar, control tower and staff quarters. The airport is expected to be fully operational by March next year. It is being built by Kundan Singh Construction at a cost of Sh610 million.
Vision 2030 has identified Isiolo as a gateway to realising economic fortunes for the arid northern Kenya.
Isiolo is part of the northern tourism circuit and is centrally placed between some major parks, which include Meru National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Shaba Game Reserve, Kora National Park, Mwingi National Reserve and the Bisanadi National reserve.
To the north of Isiolo are the Marsabit National Reserve and Sibiloi National Park.
Currently, the town has very few tourism facilities which include the Sarova Shaba located in the Shaba Game Reserve and Buffalo Springs lodges located in the Samburu National Reserve.
Building of the 501km Isiolo-Moyale highway, which links Kenya to Ethiopia is currently ongoing with 136km from Isiolo to Merelle so far complete. Also in the radar is building of a railway line, pipeline and highway linking Kenya and Juba in Southern Sudan.
Once complete, the airport is expected to link Isiolo town to Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu. It is also expected to decongest Wilson airport by moving the miraa (Khat) trade aircraft to Isiolo.
The 1.4 kilometre runway will handle heavy commercial aircraft with a load weight of up to 66 tonnes.
The government is yet to compensate 400 families that were displaced by the Airstrip rehabilitation project despite making a promise of Sh200 million to them.
Some of the land has fallen prey to speculators, who have subdivided it and sold to unsuspecting investors.
Adopted from http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539552/1190886/-/65v57dz/-/index.html
Investors flock to Isiolo as Vision upgrade looms
Investors are taking positions to gain from the projects planned for Isiolo town under the Vision 2030 development blueprint, with the rehabilitation of the airstrip attracting developers for residential and leisure facilities.
Vision 2030 board member Peter Gakunu said ample land in Isiolo and Nyambene towns had attracted proposals for establishment of resort centres by private developers.
“As the rehabilitation of the Airport progresses, investors are angling themselves to erect houses and hotels as well as other recreation facilities,” he said.
So intense is the land speculation in the area that within two years a quarter piece of land has jumped from Sh15, 000 to Sh150, 000.
The opening up of the area, which is earmarked to be a resort city in the Las Vegas mould under the Vision 2030, will enhance other sectors such as agriculture, banking, housing and art work. The resort centre will be complete with casinos, international filming facilities and all the trappings of lavish living money can buy. The upgrading work on the airstrip involves expansion of the runway, building of taxiways, aprons, passenger terminus and cargo terminus.
Other amenities include parking areas, a fire station, meteorological centre, hangar, control tower and staff quarters. The airport is expected to be fully operational by March next year. It is being built by Kundan Singh Construction at a cost of Sh610 million.
Vision 2030 has identified Isiolo as a gateway to realising economic fortunes for the arid northern Kenya.
Isiolo is part of the northern tourism circuit and is centrally placed between some major parks, which include Meru National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Shaba Game Reserve, Kora National Park, Mwingi National Reserve and the Bisanadi National reserve.
To the north of Isiolo are the Marsabit National Reserve and Sibiloi National Park.
Currently, the town has very few tourism facilities which include the Sarova Shaba located in the Shaba Game Reserve and Buffalo Springs lodges located in the Samburu National Reserve.
Building of the 501km Isiolo-Moyale highway, which links Kenya to Ethiopia is currently ongoing with 136km from Isiolo to Merelle so far complete. Also in the radar is building of a railway line, pipeline and highway linking Kenya and Juba in Southern Sudan.
Once complete, the airport is expected to link Isiolo town to Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu. It is also expected to decongest Wilson airport by moving the miraa (Khat) trade aircraft to Isiolo.
The 1.4 kilometre runway will handle heavy commercial aircraft with a load weight of up to 66 tonnes.
The government is yet to compensate 400 families that were displaced by the Airstrip rehabilitation project despite making a promise of Sh200 million to them.
Some of the land has fallen prey to speculators, who have subdivided it and sold to unsuspecting investors.
Adopted from http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539552/1190886/-/65v57dz/-/index.html
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Africa’s Investment Attractiveness Index
See how your county is fairing in the regions when it comes to investment prospects. Many odds against Kenya amidst the good words
Ernst & Young's 2011 Africa attractiveness survey identified 17 African countries that will offer attractive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities in the next five years.
East Africa
Ethiopia: Research from The Economist shows that Ethiopia was among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world over the past decade. Its gold mines, and the potential to exploit recently found natural gas reserves (currently 25bn cubic meters) will attract significant amounts of investment over the next few years. But poor levels of human capital, a small domestic market, underdeveloped infrastructure and high levels of bureaucracy are all barriers to investment outside of natural resources.
Rwanda: Relative to its African counterparts, Rwanda’s resource endowment is poor; the country has no significant natural resource, and its labour force is small and poorly educated. But offsetting these negatives is Rwanda’s institutional environment. The government has actively tackled corruption in recent years, and the business environment is extremely friendly. Significant investment has been made to improve infrastructure.
Democratic Republic of Congo: The DRC’s oil and mineral reserves are among the riches in Africa, and the sheer potential will continue to attract foreign investment, particularly as demand in the developed and emerging markets rises and capacity constraints are met by other producers. But poor human capital, a small domestic market, primitive infrastructure and an unfriendly business environment will all work against any attempt to attract capital to non-resource sectors of the economy. Above all, the precarious political situation, with the possibility of renewed conflict in the eastern provinces, may limit the attraction of the country to foreign investors.
Kenya: Kenya probably has the most highly developed economy in East Africa. It has a relatively well-educated and rapidly growing labour force, and is most often used as a hub by multinationals looking to develop East African markets. However, its relative lack of natural resources may make it increasingly hard for it to compete with its neighbours, and it’s still small domestic market, immature infrastructure and high levels of bureaucracy are barriers to investment that need to be addressed.
Tanzania: Driven by the rising price of gold that has increased 75% over the last three years, Tanzania’s gold reserves will continue to attract investor interest over the medium term. The country’s relatively well-educated labour force, coupled with political stability and the government’s sound macroeconomic management of the economy, will add to Tanzania’s attractiveness. But the relatively small domestic market, poor infrastructure network and high levels of bureaucracy are a barrier to further investment in the non-mineral sector of the economy.
Uganda: Uganda’s vast mineral resources and a recent discovery of oil will attract significant amounts of investment over the medium term. The country’s relatively well-educated labour force, low levels of bureaucracy and diversified economy will attract funds into the labour-intensive service sector too (e.g., communications and financial services). Offsetting these positive factors are the infrastructure network and the country’s small domestic market. In addition, following the recent disputed presidential election, political risk factors need to be taken into account.
Southern Africa
South Africa: South Africa’s substantial natural resource endowment will continue to attract investors, and its comparatively well-educated labour force will draw funds into the non-resource sectors of its diverse economy. Coupled with this, the domestic market is among the largest in Africa, the population is the richest on average (although extreme income inequality means that many people remain in poverty) and the institutional environment is relatively conducive to business. Despite these overwhelming positives, inflows to South Africa are not expected to be large relative to GDP (around 2% to 2.5%). The economy’s wealth means it can afford to fund much of its own investment, and the country is expected to be a significant source of funds for other African nations over the forecast period.
Angola: Angola’s attractiveness for FDI will remain moderate but is expected to improve between 2011 and 2015. Angola’s oil and mineral reserves will continue to be the main attraction for investors over the next five years. Enriched by the oil wealth, the country’s growing middle class will also be attractive to investors looking for new markets. But current levels of income inequality, skills shortages, underdeveloped infrastructure, and bureaucracy are all hindering efforts to attract foreign investment. As a result most FDI in Angola is likely to be focused on the natural resource sectors for the foreseeable future. Although Angola will receive a significant amount of FDI over the next five years, its expected concentration in the oil sector will limit the job creation prospects.
Mauritius: Mauritius has a well-developed infrastructure network, a highly educated workforce, a comparatively high level of income and low levels of bureaucracy, all of which are attractive to investors. Slightly offsetting these positives are labour market rigidities; in particular, the centralised wage-setting mechanism and high levels of inequality. Despite Mauritius’ positive attributes, it is expected to receive only modest amounts of FDI over the next five years. Better opportunities elsewhere, in particular in countries with large natural resource endowments or larger populations, will attract investors. Despite the modest amount of FDI, the economy’s focus on the service sector means a relatively large number of jobs will be created as a result.
Mozambique: Mozambique’s key attraction for investors is the recently established natural gas reserves, which already stand at over 127bn cubic meters. Coupled with this, significant improvements are being made to the education system and the country’s infrastructure. According to research by The Economist, Mozambique was one of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world over the past decade, and this growth is likely to be sustained for the foreseeable future. However, the country’s relatively poor population and high levels of bureaucracy (although this too is improving) mean Mozambique will probably remain only moderately attractive to investors over the medium term.
Zambia: Zambia’s copper mines will continue to attract investors over the forecast period, with global demand expected to keep prices high for the foreseeable future. Outside of the minerals sector, prospects for FDI are less good. Zambia’s reliance on copper (which makes it vulnerable to price movements), coupled with its small domestic market, will limit the flow of capital into the rest of the economy. But the country’s business-friendly environment, sound macroeconomic management and investment in the infrastructure network should attract multinational companies into other parts of the economy.
West Africa
Nigeria: Nigeria’s oil reserves (which stood at over 36b barrels in 2007) will continue to attract funds over the medium term, and we expect a large proportion of FDI to be concentrated here. However, the large domestic market and diversified economy mean other sectors such as communications, real estate and tourism will also attract attention. Holding Nigeria back are its relative shortage of key skills, poor infrastructure and high level of bureaucracy. Ongoing perceptions of high political risk should begin to diminish after the elections.
Ghana: Ghana has a sizable resource endowment, including substantial mineral, gas and oil reserves. We expect continued investment in the oil and gas industries, contributing to the majority of FDI flows. Increasing oil revenues should indirectly boost other sectors. This is particularly true of infrastructure, although, if managed correctly, it could help fund improvements in industries such as health care and education. Ghana benefits from a stable political environment, with democracy well established and adhered to. However, Ghana needs to continue to invest in infrastructure, human capital and health care to attract more diversified FDI projects.
Senegal: Senegal has a sizable resource endowment, and its mineral resources make it an attractive location in which to invest. We expect continued investment in mineral extraction, contributing to the majority of FDI flows. Senegal also benefits from a stable political environment, with democracy well established and adhered to. A range of economic reforms have fostered a stable macroeconomic environment. However, improvements need to be made regarding human development, the business environment and infrastructure, for FDI to grow substantially.
North Africa
Egypt: Egypt oil production is expected to fall as reserves mature and run dry, but the fossil fuel sector is still expected to attract investors over the next five years. Bigger attractions for investors are Egypt’s large, relatively well-educated population, sizeable domestic market and proximity to Europe. Slightly offsetting these positives are the high levels of bureaucracy and corruption, but recent government reforms in these areas should improve the institutional environment. Assuming that the political situation is resolved and reforms are continued, Egypt will remain an attractive destination for investors in the next five years.
Ernst & Young's 2011 Africa attractiveness survey identified 17 African countries that will offer attractive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities in the next five years.
East Africa
Ethiopia: Research from The Economist shows that Ethiopia was among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world over the past decade. Its gold mines, and the potential to exploit recently found natural gas reserves (currently 25bn cubic meters) will attract significant amounts of investment over the next few years. But poor levels of human capital, a small domestic market, underdeveloped infrastructure and high levels of bureaucracy are all barriers to investment outside of natural resources.
Rwanda: Relative to its African counterparts, Rwanda’s resource endowment is poor; the country has no significant natural resource, and its labour force is small and poorly educated. But offsetting these negatives is Rwanda’s institutional environment. The government has actively tackled corruption in recent years, and the business environment is extremely friendly. Significant investment has been made to improve infrastructure.
Democratic Republic of Congo: The DRC’s oil and mineral reserves are among the riches in Africa, and the sheer potential will continue to attract foreign investment, particularly as demand in the developed and emerging markets rises and capacity constraints are met by other producers. But poor human capital, a small domestic market, primitive infrastructure and an unfriendly business environment will all work against any attempt to attract capital to non-resource sectors of the economy. Above all, the precarious political situation, with the possibility of renewed conflict in the eastern provinces, may limit the attraction of the country to foreign investors.
Kenya: Kenya probably has the most highly developed economy in East Africa. It has a relatively well-educated and rapidly growing labour force, and is most often used as a hub by multinationals looking to develop East African markets. However, its relative lack of natural resources may make it increasingly hard for it to compete with its neighbours, and it’s still small domestic market, immature infrastructure and high levels of bureaucracy are barriers to investment that need to be addressed.
Tanzania: Driven by the rising price of gold that has increased 75% over the last three years, Tanzania’s gold reserves will continue to attract investor interest over the medium term. The country’s relatively well-educated labour force, coupled with political stability and the government’s sound macroeconomic management of the economy, will add to Tanzania’s attractiveness. But the relatively small domestic market, poor infrastructure network and high levels of bureaucracy are a barrier to further investment in the non-mineral sector of the economy.
Uganda: Uganda’s vast mineral resources and a recent discovery of oil will attract significant amounts of investment over the medium term. The country’s relatively well-educated labour force, low levels of bureaucracy and diversified economy will attract funds into the labour-intensive service sector too (e.g., communications and financial services). Offsetting these positive factors are the infrastructure network and the country’s small domestic market. In addition, following the recent disputed presidential election, political risk factors need to be taken into account.
Southern Africa
South Africa: South Africa’s substantial natural resource endowment will continue to attract investors, and its comparatively well-educated labour force will draw funds into the non-resource sectors of its diverse economy. Coupled with this, the domestic market is among the largest in Africa, the population is the richest on average (although extreme income inequality means that many people remain in poverty) and the institutional environment is relatively conducive to business. Despite these overwhelming positives, inflows to South Africa are not expected to be large relative to GDP (around 2% to 2.5%). The economy’s wealth means it can afford to fund much of its own investment, and the country is expected to be a significant source of funds for other African nations over the forecast period.
Angola: Angola’s attractiveness for FDI will remain moderate but is expected to improve between 2011 and 2015. Angola’s oil and mineral reserves will continue to be the main attraction for investors over the next five years. Enriched by the oil wealth, the country’s growing middle class will also be attractive to investors looking for new markets. But current levels of income inequality, skills shortages, underdeveloped infrastructure, and bureaucracy are all hindering efforts to attract foreign investment. As a result most FDI in Angola is likely to be focused on the natural resource sectors for the foreseeable future. Although Angola will receive a significant amount of FDI over the next five years, its expected concentration in the oil sector will limit the job creation prospects.
Mauritius: Mauritius has a well-developed infrastructure network, a highly educated workforce, a comparatively high level of income and low levels of bureaucracy, all of which are attractive to investors. Slightly offsetting these positives are labour market rigidities; in particular, the centralised wage-setting mechanism and high levels of inequality. Despite Mauritius’ positive attributes, it is expected to receive only modest amounts of FDI over the next five years. Better opportunities elsewhere, in particular in countries with large natural resource endowments or larger populations, will attract investors. Despite the modest amount of FDI, the economy’s focus on the service sector means a relatively large number of jobs will be created as a result.
Mozambique: Mozambique’s key attraction for investors is the recently established natural gas reserves, which already stand at over 127bn cubic meters. Coupled with this, significant improvements are being made to the education system and the country’s infrastructure. According to research by The Economist, Mozambique was one of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world over the past decade, and this growth is likely to be sustained for the foreseeable future. However, the country’s relatively poor population and high levels of bureaucracy (although this too is improving) mean Mozambique will probably remain only moderately attractive to investors over the medium term.
Zambia: Zambia’s copper mines will continue to attract investors over the forecast period, with global demand expected to keep prices high for the foreseeable future. Outside of the minerals sector, prospects for FDI are less good. Zambia’s reliance on copper (which makes it vulnerable to price movements), coupled with its small domestic market, will limit the flow of capital into the rest of the economy. But the country’s business-friendly environment, sound macroeconomic management and investment in the infrastructure network should attract multinational companies into other parts of the economy.
West Africa
Nigeria: Nigeria’s oil reserves (which stood at over 36b barrels in 2007) will continue to attract funds over the medium term, and we expect a large proportion of FDI to be concentrated here. However, the large domestic market and diversified economy mean other sectors such as communications, real estate and tourism will also attract attention. Holding Nigeria back are its relative shortage of key skills, poor infrastructure and high level of bureaucracy. Ongoing perceptions of high political risk should begin to diminish after the elections.
Ghana: Ghana has a sizable resource endowment, including substantial mineral, gas and oil reserves. We expect continued investment in the oil and gas industries, contributing to the majority of FDI flows. Increasing oil revenues should indirectly boost other sectors. This is particularly true of infrastructure, although, if managed correctly, it could help fund improvements in industries such as health care and education. Ghana benefits from a stable political environment, with democracy well established and adhered to. However, Ghana needs to continue to invest in infrastructure, human capital and health care to attract more diversified FDI projects.
Senegal: Senegal has a sizable resource endowment, and its mineral resources make it an attractive location in which to invest. We expect continued investment in mineral extraction, contributing to the majority of FDI flows. Senegal also benefits from a stable political environment, with democracy well established and adhered to. A range of economic reforms have fostered a stable macroeconomic environment. However, improvements need to be made regarding human development, the business environment and infrastructure, for FDI to grow substantially.
North Africa
Egypt: Egypt oil production is expected to fall as reserves mature and run dry, but the fossil fuel sector is still expected to attract investors over the next five years. Bigger attractions for investors are Egypt’s large, relatively well-educated population, sizeable domestic market and proximity to Europe. Slightly offsetting these positives are the high levels of bureaucracy and corruption, but recent government reforms in these areas should improve the institutional environment. Assuming that the political situation is resolved and reforms are continued, Egypt will remain an attractive destination for investors in the next five years.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
imapct of social media on business
While social media has infinite potential to do wonders for your business, it also has the potential to cause a catastrophe. “A hazard of social media is that people will read what you write. Your error will be multiplied in its impact by the trail of online wreckage it creates,” said Marla Erwin, the inthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifractive art director for Whole Foods Market.
Companies such as Amazon, United Airlines, Pepsi, Chipotle and Motrin have made mistakes resulting in unprecedented ramifications, thanks to customer feedback via social media. Companies can stave off a social media disaster by being cautious and vigilant, and responding swiftly to crisis. Some of Erwin’s tips:
* Fight social media fire with social media water. Be it Facebook, Twitter or another network, always make sure you are in the same medium as your customers.
* Context matters. If you are responding to a tweet, make sure you aren’t responding to the final of a series of tweets, as you could end up looking foolish.
* Apologies matter. If you are going to apologize to your customers, you’d better mean it.
* Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Don’t mock or belittle your customers. It’s a bad move.
* It matters who steers the ship. It pays to trust your staff, but make sure the person running your social media front has the sensibility and the training that you can rely on.
* Avoid “The Streisand Effect.” Sometimes, you are the problem. By trying to cover up or mend mistakes, you may be perpetuating them. Focus efforts on shutting down, not causing, the media hype.
Adopted from smartblog
Is your company properly responding though its social media channels?
Companies such as Amazon, United Airlines, Pepsi, Chipotle and Motrin have made mistakes resulting in unprecedented ramifications, thanks to customer feedback via social media. Companies can stave off a social media disaster by being cautious and vigilant, and responding swiftly to crisis. Some of Erwin’s tips:
* Fight social media fire with social media water. Be it Facebook, Twitter or another network, always make sure you are in the same medium as your customers.
* Context matters. If you are responding to a tweet, make sure you aren’t responding to the final of a series of tweets, as you could end up looking foolish.
* Apologies matter. If you are going to apologize to your customers, you’d better mean it.
* Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Don’t mock or belittle your customers. It’s a bad move.
* It matters who steers the ship. It pays to trust your staff, but make sure the person running your social media front has the sensibility and the training that you can rely on.
* Avoid “The Streisand Effect.” Sometimes, you are the problem. By trying to cover up or mend mistakes, you may be perpetuating them. Focus efforts on shutting down, not causing, the media hype.
Adopted from smartblog
Is your company properly responding though its social media channels?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Entrepreneurship in Africa
In the last few months, the number of entrepreneurship workshops and trainings in Africa has increased. Entrepreneurship has become the next big thing in the continent and many young graduates are opting to take risks and run startups rather than seek traditional employment. New to Africa is that these new class of entrepreneurs are well-accepted by the society. The path of getting a college degree to work for banks, mines, and big companies is making way for one where graduates could pursue their passions — no matter how small.
A good number of the young entrepreneurs from Lagos to Nairobi are inspired by what is happening in Silicon Valley more than what is going on in their own neighborhoods. The social media sector in Africa can be divided into three groups. The first works to clone what already exists — like Facebook and Twitter. The second develops useful technologies and makes them free. The third belongs to the core entrepreneurial class with viable business ideas.
Unfortunately, the last group is not getting much help. The reason has to do with a lack of entrepreneurial funding climate in the continent. Investors cannot put money into most ideas because the exit strategy is limited. Also, most rich Africans, politicians and military generals, have not made their wealth through investing so they are not traditionally good sources for funding. Another big challenge is Africa's immature intellectual property rights environment, which continue to stifle incentives for invention. Why invest in something that can be copied without any consequence?
Here are some thoughts on how best to nurture entrepreneurs in Africa:
Funding: While it is good to travel from the U.S. and Europe to run workshops on entrepreneurships in Africa, what matters most is funding. There are many local NGOs running these programs, but unless someone has money to invest in the best entrepreneurial ideas, nothing happens.
Mentoring: Young African entrepreneurs need business mentors. In most communities, the richest people are still politicians and military men. It's hard to finding businesspeople who can inspire.
Monetization: Young entrepreneurs need to learn that giving away their products for free may not work most times. Rather, they should invest time to find how to monetize their ideas and use the revenue to grow. Building free apps hurts local industry. What works in the U.S. may not work in Africa.
Think Local: While building a Facebook clone could be exciting, it does not have much prospect for success. Most people will not leave Facebook and join the local one. That energy can be used to create a local app.
Segregate Websites: In this area of acquisitions, it makes sense to build multiple websites for different core ideas. That will help the startup sell each unit independently. When one site hosts all the ideas, untangling them during acquisitions could be difficult. Thinking how to exit at the beginning is very important.
source. HBR
A good number of the young entrepreneurs from Lagos to Nairobi are inspired by what is happening in Silicon Valley more than what is going on in their own neighborhoods. The social media sector in Africa can be divided into three groups. The first works to clone what already exists — like Facebook and Twitter. The second develops useful technologies and makes them free. The third belongs to the core entrepreneurial class with viable business ideas.
Unfortunately, the last group is not getting much help. The reason has to do with a lack of entrepreneurial funding climate in the continent. Investors cannot put money into most ideas because the exit strategy is limited. Also, most rich Africans, politicians and military generals, have not made their wealth through investing so they are not traditionally good sources for funding. Another big challenge is Africa's immature intellectual property rights environment, which continue to stifle incentives for invention. Why invest in something that can be copied without any consequence?
Here are some thoughts on how best to nurture entrepreneurs in Africa:
Funding: While it is good to travel from the U.S. and Europe to run workshops on entrepreneurships in Africa, what matters most is funding. There are many local NGOs running these programs, but unless someone has money to invest in the best entrepreneurial ideas, nothing happens.
Mentoring: Young African entrepreneurs need business mentors. In most communities, the richest people are still politicians and military men. It's hard to finding businesspeople who can inspire.
Monetization: Young entrepreneurs need to learn that giving away their products for free may not work most times. Rather, they should invest time to find how to monetize their ideas and use the revenue to grow. Building free apps hurts local industry. What works in the U.S. may not work in Africa.
Think Local: While building a Facebook clone could be exciting, it does not have much prospect for success. Most people will not leave Facebook and join the local one. That energy can be used to create a local app.
Segregate Websites: In this area of acquisitions, it makes sense to build multiple websites for different core ideas. That will help the startup sell each unit independently. When one site hosts all the ideas, untangling them during acquisitions could be difficult. Thinking how to exit at the beginning is very important.
source. HBR
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Five Financing Trends for 2011
When it comes to funding options for startups, new ideas seem to come along every season. Some may be old ideas dressed up in a new way, while a few may be something we really haven't seen before. It isn't certain which ones will become the new black of small business and which will disappear with this year’s hemlines. But here are five financing trends for 2011 that could have an impact on your company.
1. Crowdfunding
Kickstarter popularized the idea of crowdfunding, which is when a large group of people help fund a project or business through a cluster of small donations. Kickstarter began as a new way to help artists get projects off the ground. In return for funding, donors receive goods or services, or even just a well-crafted thank-you, in lieu of equity or interest payments. Now the same idea is spreading to business ventures. Diaspora, a tech company that wants to build a social network to rival Facebook got more than $200,000 in seed money from a Kickstarter campaign
Of course, the Securities and Exchange Commission frowns on companies offering equity to the public without filing with the government to do so, so when it comes to crowdfunding backers always get something other than equity. Take Catwalk Genius. Its members fund fledgling fashion designers and in return get a share of the revenue generated by the designer’s clothing lines. Then, there's Indiegogo, which leans toward creative and tech business ventures, and peerbackers.com, a community of people specifically looking to support entrepreneurs, which are similar to Kickstarter in that they encourage preselling products as a way to raise funds. Look for more niche-oriented crowdfunding sites in 2011.
2. Microlending
The idea of offering very small loans, even just $100, has its roots in helping women in underdeveloped countries start small business ventures. But as the recession tightened credit offerings, the popularity of microlending has extended to the U.S. -- especially as aspiring entrepreneurs are starting ventures with far less than the $50,000 business loan threshold common at many banks. Not-for-profit Accion is the largest organization putting that idea into action with loans that start at $500 and average a little more than $5,000. You can also research other microlending programs around the U.S. through the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's searchable database.
3. Credit Unions
These cooperative financial institutions are among the most active in making smaller loans to entrepreneurs and have only gotten busier in recent years, according to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Its figures show credit unions made more than $33 billion worth of business loans in 2009, up from $12 billion in 2004. They have relatively low default rates and terms that are often better than traditional banks, according to the NCUA and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Credit unions also can be a resource for aspiring business owners whose credit score might not pass muster with other banks. The catch? You will likely have to become a member of the credit union to borrow from it.
4. Bootstrapping
If you’ve trimmed your start-up costs down to a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, why not skip the loan altogether and bootstrap your business? When you tap personal savings, get vendors to front start-up supplies for delayed payment terms, hit up friends and relatives, or use one money-making venture to fund another, then you’re bootstrapping. It’s a good way to test an idea and make sure it has legs before investing heavily in a new venture. Think of it as the business equivalent of going retro. It’s an idea that has been around forever, but is making a big comeback as people who have lost their jobs in the recession increasingly look to start a small business as an alternative to traditional employment.
5. The Slow Money Movement
Woody Tasch, longtime chairman of Investors' Circle, a hugely successful angel network for socially responsible companies, is spearheading this fledgling movement. Its ambitious aim is “a million Americans investing 1% of their assets in local food systems within a decade."
The idea is to help entrepreneurs who buy, use and sell local food or who engage in sustainable agriculture get seed funding from people they know in their communities. The terms are set on a deal-by-deal basis, which can range from a loan to equity to a credit extension. Backers are encouraged to invest in ventures that won’t just turn quick profits but will benefit their communities over the long term by creating jobs, supporting other local businesses and the fostering local food chain.
It’s ambitious and will likely evolve as it goes. But in its early days so was Investors' Circle, which has facilitated over $134 million in investments in more than 200 companies since 1992. We’re interested to see how Tasch will sustain this movement.
1. Crowdfunding
Kickstarter popularized the idea of crowdfunding, which is when a large group of people help fund a project or business through a cluster of small donations. Kickstarter began as a new way to help artists get projects off the ground. In return for funding, donors receive goods or services, or even just a well-crafted thank-you, in lieu of equity or interest payments. Now the same idea is spreading to business ventures. Diaspora, a tech company that wants to build a social network to rival Facebook got more than $200,000 in seed money from a Kickstarter campaign
Of course, the Securities and Exchange Commission frowns on companies offering equity to the public without filing with the government to do so, so when it comes to crowdfunding backers always get something other than equity. Take Catwalk Genius. Its members fund fledgling fashion designers and in return get a share of the revenue generated by the designer’s clothing lines. Then, there's Indiegogo, which leans toward creative and tech business ventures, and peerbackers.com, a community of people specifically looking to support entrepreneurs, which are similar to Kickstarter in that they encourage preselling products as a way to raise funds. Look for more niche-oriented crowdfunding sites in 2011.
2. Microlending
The idea of offering very small loans, even just $100, has its roots in helping women in underdeveloped countries start small business ventures. But as the recession tightened credit offerings, the popularity of microlending has extended to the U.S. -- especially as aspiring entrepreneurs are starting ventures with far less than the $50,000 business loan threshold common at many banks. Not-for-profit Accion is the largest organization putting that idea into action with loans that start at $500 and average a little more than $5,000. You can also research other microlending programs around the U.S. through the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's searchable database.
3. Credit Unions
These cooperative financial institutions are among the most active in making smaller loans to entrepreneurs and have only gotten busier in recent years, according to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Its figures show credit unions made more than $33 billion worth of business loans in 2009, up from $12 billion in 2004. They have relatively low default rates and terms that are often better than traditional banks, according to the NCUA and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Credit unions also can be a resource for aspiring business owners whose credit score might not pass muster with other banks. The catch? You will likely have to become a member of the credit union to borrow from it.
4. Bootstrapping
If you’ve trimmed your start-up costs down to a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, why not skip the loan altogether and bootstrap your business? When you tap personal savings, get vendors to front start-up supplies for delayed payment terms, hit up friends and relatives, or use one money-making venture to fund another, then you’re bootstrapping. It’s a good way to test an idea and make sure it has legs before investing heavily in a new venture. Think of it as the business equivalent of going retro. It’s an idea that has been around forever, but is making a big comeback as people who have lost their jobs in the recession increasingly look to start a small business as an alternative to traditional employment.
5. The Slow Money Movement
Woody Tasch, longtime chairman of Investors' Circle, a hugely successful angel network for socially responsible companies, is spearheading this fledgling movement. Its ambitious aim is “a million Americans investing 1% of their assets in local food systems within a decade."
The idea is to help entrepreneurs who buy, use and sell local food or who engage in sustainable agriculture get seed funding from people they know in their communities. The terms are set on a deal-by-deal basis, which can range from a loan to equity to a credit extension. Backers are encouraged to invest in ventures that won’t just turn quick profits but will benefit their communities over the long term by creating jobs, supporting other local businesses and the fostering local food chain.
It’s ambitious and will likely evolve as it goes. But in its early days so was Investors' Circle, which has facilitated over $134 million in investments in more than 200 companies since 1992. We’re interested to see how Tasch will sustain this movement.
Well fed chicken bring you good income
Indigenous chickens are in high demand. Farmers should rear them on commercial basis.
There is a high potential for indigenous chicken production in Kenya. But the main problem is that majority of farmers do not consider rearing indigenous chickens as a serious occupation. They do it to meet their home consumption needs and rarely on commercial basis. This is a missed chance. Looking at the current market prices for indigenous chicken and even eggs, there is a good reason why farmers should rear them in high numbers for the market.
To start with, indigenous chicken and eggs fetch a higher price in the market than hybrid ones. For example, an indigenous chicken egg goes for a retail price of KSh 15 while a hen or cock can fetch as much as KSh 500 especially during the festive season in December, when they are in short supply due to increased demand from consumers. Therefore, a farmer who wants to get a good return must do correct timing to ensure the chicken are ready at around the Christmas period.
Indeed, indigenous chicken are always in demand across the country. It is therefore easy for farmers to identify a market near them to which they can supply on a regular basis when they start production.
Planning is important
To produce chicken in big volumes and with incubators, a farmer must have adequate knowledge of breeding. Without breeding experience and management, it is very difficult to go into commercial production. If the farmer has identified the right breed of chicken to start with, the next stage is to count the number of eggs the chicken can lay, say in one week. With a rough estimate of eggs, a farmer can be able to know the size of incubator to buy.
Feeding indigenous chicken is a challenge
To be successful, farmers have to identify the source of feeds for their chicken. The feed should be the right quantity and quality for breeders, laying hens and even chicks. With some training, farmers can be able to make their own feeds at home without having to buy from the shops. Although production potential of indigenous chicken is lower than that one of hybrid chickens, they are very good in converting feed into meat and eggs – even in areas with very little feed. It is very easy to increase their egg, meat production and growth through proper feeding.
Feed for all stages of growth
The cheapest way to reduce the cost of feeding is to allow the chicken to go on free range, at the same time providing supplementary feeds that will keep them healthy and productive. Like other animals, poultry requires feeds that give them energy, protein as well as vitamins, minerals and water.
Good poultry production involves proper selection of feed for each of breeds we have mentioned above. For instance, feed for chicken meant for egg production is different in composition from feed for chicken used for meat production. In the same way, feed for chicken meant for breeding purposes is quite different from that meant for both egg and meat production. If farmers want to rear improved breeds of indigenous chicken, then they have to provide adequate feed that is suitable at each growing stage.
These are divided into three categories:
A starter diet or chick mash: This is a high protein feed that is given to chicks, from day old up to 8 weeks. Each chick should eat 2 kg in the 8 weeks.
Growers mash: This contains medium protein. It is offered from 9 weeks up to 18 weeks. Each grower consumes about 18 kg during this period.
Layers mash: This is lower in proteins. It is offered to hens from 19 to 75 weeks. Allow 120 g of feed per bird per day. An egg-laying hen consumes about 45 kg of layers’ mash in a year.
Examples of home-made rations;
Ingredients (%) Chicks Growers Layers
Maize 30 25 35
Wheat 20 25
Wheat bran 10 15
Rice bran 10 10 35
Sunflower cake 10 5
Cotton seed cake 5 10
Soya cake 10
Fish meal 2 2 15
Beans 10 5
Bone meal 1 1
Limestone 0.5 0.5 2
Salt 0.5 0.5 0.5
Mineral premix 1 1 1
Ground dried legume leaves 0.5
100 100 100
Rations for supplementing local chicks;
Ingredient Quantity
1) Crushed maize/sorghum or
millet
1 kg tin
2) Wheat/sorghum or millet bran 1 kg tin
3) Sunflower/ sesame /groundnut
cake
2 match boxes
4) Bonemeal / Salt mix 1 matchbox
5) Fishmeal (omena) 2 matchboxes
6) Sesbania/ leucaena leaves 2 matchboxes
Feed at different ages;
Age Intake (g)
1 week 12-15
2 weeks 15-21
3 weeks 21- 35
4-6 weeks 35-50
7-8 weeks 55-60
16-27 weeks 68-80
28 weeks 100
There is a high potential for indigenous chicken production in Kenya. But the main problem is that majority of farmers do not consider rearing indigenous chickens as a serious occupation. They do it to meet their home consumption needs and rarely on commercial basis. This is a missed chance. Looking at the current market prices for indigenous chicken and even eggs, there is a good reason why farmers should rear them in high numbers for the market.
To start with, indigenous chicken and eggs fetch a higher price in the market than hybrid ones. For example, an indigenous chicken egg goes for a retail price of KSh 15 while a hen or cock can fetch as much as KSh 500 especially during the festive season in December, when they are in short supply due to increased demand from consumers. Therefore, a farmer who wants to get a good return must do correct timing to ensure the chicken are ready at around the Christmas period.
Indeed, indigenous chicken are always in demand across the country. It is therefore easy for farmers to identify a market near them to which they can supply on a regular basis when they start production.
Planning is important
To produce chicken in big volumes and with incubators, a farmer must have adequate knowledge of breeding. Without breeding experience and management, it is very difficult to go into commercial production. If the farmer has identified the right breed of chicken to start with, the next stage is to count the number of eggs the chicken can lay, say in one week. With a rough estimate of eggs, a farmer can be able to know the size of incubator to buy.
Feeding indigenous chicken is a challenge
To be successful, farmers have to identify the source of feeds for their chicken. The feed should be the right quantity and quality for breeders, laying hens and even chicks. With some training, farmers can be able to make their own feeds at home without having to buy from the shops. Although production potential of indigenous chicken is lower than that one of hybrid chickens, they are very good in converting feed into meat and eggs – even in areas with very little feed. It is very easy to increase their egg, meat production and growth through proper feeding.
Feed for all stages of growth
The cheapest way to reduce the cost of feeding is to allow the chicken to go on free range, at the same time providing supplementary feeds that will keep them healthy and productive. Like other animals, poultry requires feeds that give them energy, protein as well as vitamins, minerals and water.
Good poultry production involves proper selection of feed for each of breeds we have mentioned above. For instance, feed for chicken meant for egg production is different in composition from feed for chicken used for meat production. In the same way, feed for chicken meant for breeding purposes is quite different from that meant for both egg and meat production. If farmers want to rear improved breeds of indigenous chicken, then they have to provide adequate feed that is suitable at each growing stage.
These are divided into three categories:
A starter diet or chick mash: This is a high protein feed that is given to chicks, from day old up to 8 weeks. Each chick should eat 2 kg in the 8 weeks.
Growers mash: This contains medium protein. It is offered from 9 weeks up to 18 weeks. Each grower consumes about 18 kg during this period.
Layers mash: This is lower in proteins. It is offered to hens from 19 to 75 weeks. Allow 120 g of feed per bird per day. An egg-laying hen consumes about 45 kg of layers’ mash in a year.
Examples of home-made rations;
Ingredients (%) Chicks Growers Layers
Maize 30 25 35
Wheat 20 25
Wheat bran 10 15
Rice bran 10 10 35
Sunflower cake 10 5
Cotton seed cake 5 10
Soya cake 10
Fish meal 2 2 15
Beans 10 5
Bone meal 1 1
Limestone 0.5 0.5 2
Salt 0.5 0.5 0.5
Mineral premix 1 1 1
Ground dried legume leaves 0.5
100 100 100
Rations for supplementing local chicks;
Ingredient Quantity
1) Crushed maize/sorghum or
millet
1 kg tin
2) Wheat/sorghum or millet bran 1 kg tin
3) Sunflower/ sesame /groundnut
cake
2 match boxes
4) Bonemeal / Salt mix 1 matchbox
5) Fishmeal (omena) 2 matchboxes
6) Sesbania/ leucaena leaves 2 matchboxes
Feed at different ages;
Age Intake (g)
1 week 12-15
2 weeks 15-21
3 weeks 21- 35
4-6 weeks 35-50
7-8 weeks 55-60
16-27 weeks 68-80
28 weeks 100
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