HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOPRENUERSHIP 4: HIT 22O

ASSIGNMENT 2

GROUP MEMBERS

GASHIRAI JAKOPO H180315R

TANAKA DZAPASI H180096H

TINASHE MACHINGAUTA H180179B

TINASHE TANYANYIWA H180053E

TALENT CHIKOHORE H180

BLESSING NYAMASHUKA H180117M

NIGEL NDORO H180214R

INTRODUCTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Silo technology or mass grain storage in particular which is a process or procedure

that is designed to enhance the life of stored grain by optimization of the critical or
direct silo physical conditions. These conditions include temperature, humidity,
moisture and carbon dioxide content. The basic purpose of drying grain is to reduce
its moisture content to a level acceptable for safe

storage. Moreover, many of its operations have been manually monitored and
controlled hence, less accurate. For the purpose of study of the property of grain
drying, one needs a single-kernel or at best a thin layer drying process. The aim of the
present work is to design an automatic silo system which monitors the silo conditions
and prevent the grain from developing molds and other worst case scenarios. In
Zimbabwe grain is stored when it has a moisture content between 12,5-14% and
temperature between 20-25 degrees and the grain last for at least 300 days. If the
temperatures are high the grain results in a lower test weight and increased breakage
suscepting to browning. If the temperature is high this increases the kernel damage,
for example in 2008 due to condensation occurring on the dryer, it created a wet
surface for debris to accumulate. The debris reduced airflow through the dryer,
reduced drying capacity and creating a hazard. So it should not exceed 200F. If the
grain has a moisture content of 12,5% it reduces the test weight, so if it increases then
the grain is prone to getting damaged. So the silo will ensure that grain moisture
content is maintained at 12.5% and a temperature of 22 degrees. The general
temperature and humidity sensing within the grain in the silo is usually achieved by
multipoint temperature and humidity sensing although they are other cheaper
alternatives .

Product and service feasibiltry

The backbone of any country economy depends on food production and security.In
Zimbabwe we mainly derive our food products from grain thus quality grain storage
facility are of paramount importance. The current food security technology being
implemented by institutions such as GMB and National Foods is proving inadequacy
in the safe storage of the grain .GMB recently discarded a lot of maize because of
severe moisture content which stemmed from poor monitoring and controlling silo
facilities. Our storage technology is going to be very relevant in this current situation
because we will be utter mostly maintaining the grain’s quality and enhancing its life
span. The system will achieve this by monitoring and controlling the ambient storage
conditions in the silos. The system will be ease to use since after installation the
customers will only be required to switch it on and ensure right parameters and then
ensure continuous power supply. In addition to that we will also provide a user
manual which will provide steps for using the system and also troubleshooting in case
of any emergency. Our system is depended on electrical power supply so without any
back up power like solar systems or UPS the system wont work. Thus the conclusion
is our system is feasible to a larger extent .

Market feasibility

Our immediate is the local market, and we are going to be targeting food storage
institutions like the GMB and national foods. Our market will also stretch to
Independent commercial farmers who can afford personal storage facilities. In the
long run we are projecting to be able to make small systems which will accommodate
smaller institutions and individuals such as subsistent farmers.

SWOT ANALYISIS

STRENGTH Weakness
 The same system will  Functions on electrical power
accommodate or be customized to zone so it can’t be implemented in
work with any type of grain remote areas where they is no
electricity
 It can be interrupted by power
cuts if they is no backup power
such as solar or UPS
 The large rural
market(subsistence farmers) who
suffer electricity absence again
can miss the opportunity during
its implementation.
Opportunities Threats
 First of its kind  Grain storage institutions might
copy our idea
 Ignorance to new technology
 Technoprenuers can also steal our
idea

Marketing mix strategies

Product

Fulfilling customer requirements is prerequisite because they have the power to

determine the businesses profitability or loss through high sales or idea acceptance or
low sales or idea denial.In this context the product is not just the grain storage system,
but rather it is something the consumer buys as a solution to his/her problems and also
to satisfy his/her needs. Thus the product should embrace product range, product
quality, branding, and packaging, labeling, after sales service, guaranties and
warranties. Thus we should come into the market offering extra benefits such as
customer advice, 24 hour after-service, help-line, free lessons, delivery, installation
etc.

Place

It is of paramount importance to have a site or outlet shop in places like Harare cbd or
msasa industrial because these places receive huge volumes of people thus they are
very busy sites and they are people’s number one destination sites for system
purchases. Our distribution sites will not only be confined to a fixed geological
location but also available on e-commerce trading platforms, social media and
electronic mails.

Pricing

Because of the absence of direct competitors in the market since our system is first of
its kind, thus we have the liberty to dictate prices of our choice and because of good
business principles our prices will follow moderate pricing strategies to avoid spiteful
customers and thus ensure they are happy with our prices.

Promotions

If the end users are left alone they will not buy enough of the company’s
products/services, hence there is need to directly influence their minds and the
decision they make through promotions. This involves advertising, sales promotion,
personal selling and public relations and publicity. Advertisements can be done
mainly on radio and billboards since these two platforms are effective on informing
people of the product, persuading them to why they should select our grain storage
system and also reminding them of our product superiority and quality.

Organizational Feasibility

Chief Executive Officer

GASHIRAI JAKOPO

Responsibilities include:

- Putting together the senior management team and setting the tone and
direction of the corporate culture.

- Leading the development and execution of the Dzapasi and sons holdings long
term strategy with a view to maximizing shareholder value.

- Liaison between the Board and management of the Dzapasi and sons holdings
communicates to the Board on behalf of Dzapasi and sons holdings
 management and communicates on behalf of to shareholders, employees,
Government authorities, other stakeholders and the public.

General manager

Tanaka Dzapasi

Responsibilities

-Monitoring how the workers are performing

-allocating budget resources

Chief Security Officer

. Blessing Nyamashuka
Responsibilities include:

- The public spokesperson is responsible for all information security-related

company issues.
- Preparation and presentation of technical information to people with varying
backgrounds.
- Creating security policy education programs for employees.

Educational Qualifications
Bsc of electronic engineering

Chief Financial Director

Talent Chikohore
Responsibilities include:

The responsibility of the department will be to engage other stakeholders in ways that
will ensure the smooth operation of our project. The department will be responsible
for designing the marketing strategy and implementing it on a sustainable basis.

Employment Qualifications
- Bsc of electronic engineering

Chief Technology Officer

Tinashe Tanyanyiwa

Responsibilities
The Chief Technology Officer ensures the successful execution of the company’s
business mission through development and deployment of the company’s web
presence. This requires:

- Envisioning the company’s service offerings as a web-based business,

 - Leading implementation of web applications, and
- Planning for risk and growth.
Communications & Marketing Officer
Mr Ndoro Nigel
Responsibilities include:
communicating and marketing the work of the Dzapasi and sons holdings and the
impact and benefits for the people we support

Product Development Director

. Machingauta Tinashe
Responsibilities include:

- Develop plans to ensure that immediate and future technical needs are fully
supported.
- Direct all departmental administrative matters including, but not limited to,
establishing budgets, objectives, manpower planning, performance appraisals.
- Develop policies and procedures as needs are identified within area of
responsibility.

Educational Qualifications
Technical feasibility
Upon consultation of industrial and institutional expects who include our very own
engineers, the likes of Engineer Musiiwa, Marongedze and Chimonyo, we learnt and
confirmed that this business idea is technically archivable as they confirmed oufr
technical methods in doing the project.
Upon genuine interview with the expects, they actually fed us with some relevant
hints on critical alternatives to our system’s component’s cost structure such that the
output system is cost effective. Hence the after some few amendments by the expects,
the idea is now technically feasible
The technology proposed is genuinely cheap and very much affordable to the greater
extent of the market but however since we propose to base the system on a
microcontroller chip that is currently resuscitating from the verge of being phased out,
thus any better microcontroller to be introduced can pose us tough competition.
In the mean time fifty percent of the proposed or required components or resources
are on the ground. However the availability of electronic markets will also enabled us
to look for whatever resource reliably.
Upon some generous meetings with the established industrial expects, we actually
realized that our software perspective was not entirely correct. We ended up
equipping ourselves with better software approach that is an advice on the right and
efficient programming language.
Legal Feasibility
Due to strict ZERA regulations it might be possible that we constantly get power
correction penalties due to high power and voltages possibly to be encountered. Thus
our system should be regularly serviced to ensure that it is still operating within the
expected efficiency levels and that our power factor is always above 90%.
Most of our components are going to be imported thus we need to conform to import
regulations such as the import statutory instruments and import taxes.
For us to operate well and to attract big markets such as the GMB and National foods
we need to be formally registered as a business thus we need a company operating
license, tax clearance and a proper business bank account for easier access for cash
flow.
Financial feasibilty
Our estimated total earnings will be $20 0000 and we would like to build a capital
base of about $25 000.To keep an average stock of @ least $10 000 all the times,
this is aimed at boosting liquidity and availability of petty cash resources which
are essential for the day to day running of the business and we will like to
achieving net profit margins of at least 200% from the first year of operating.

Projection cash flow

Estimated cost benefit analysis
RISK ANALYSIS
 Customer bad debts leading to cash flow problem
 Domestic government regulations could impose material costs
Overse effect on our financial results.
 Deterioration of economic conditions could negatively impact our business.