General Questions
Agrikaab (formerly Ari.farm) is an agrifood tech company that enables anyone to invest in African agriculture from their smartphone. We are currently building farms in Somalia and Kenya where we are letting our global community to invest in livestock and greenhouse farms. We buy the animals for the users, plant the crops, sell the animals and the produce for our users. You can follow everything from our app.
The farms are maintained by our team who are mostly former nomads and others with farming experience.
We currently have farms in Somalia and Kenya.
Agrikaab is founded by Mohamed Jimale, a former nomad who turned IT professional. Mohamed moved to Sweden 7 years ago where he worked for the UN and started Ari.farm (now Agrikaab). Today we are a team of 20 people working in Kenya and Somalia.
Agrikaab Ltd is registered with the Registrar of Companies in Nairobi, Kenya and in Somalia with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Mogadishu.
We employ a team of former nomads through our local partner company . They are experts in livestock trading and herding. They take care of animals, monitor the local market, buy and sell animals for the owners.
Due to strict regulation it is unfortunately difficult to ship animals between countries.
Yes, if you are in Somalia or Kenya.
You can use the app to monitor your investment and follow its impact. You can see the farms you have invested in, animals, greenhouses, sell animals, follow the market prices and your balance. We continuously post updates from our operation. You can also use the app to send your assets as a gift to friends and family or donate.
The app is available for Android on Google Play and Iphone on Apple App Store. You can also use it from your computer by visiting: https://www.agrikaab.com/app
About food investment
We make revenue sharing from the harvests. Investors get 70% of the net revenues and we take 30%.
Due to the rough climate, we estimate that the greenhouses will need major renovations/reconstruction after this period. We will need to raise new funding to cover the costs of the new construction. In addition, we estimate that the investors will get their money back and a good profit after this period.
Like most investments this carries risk. There is a risk that the harvests may not be as productive as we hope and other risks beyond our control such as security. However, we are doing our best to minimise these risks.
We will grow mostly vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots etc.
We are building different sizes depending on the availability of land.
Yes, you can re-invest your earnings in new or renovated greenhouses.
After each harvest, we will send a report to everyone who invested in the greenhouses which shows the total production, revenues and expenses. 70% of the net revenues will be distributed among the investors based on how much they have invested. We will deposit the money into each user's app account. Which they can request to withdraw or re-invest.
Although the soil is vertile but due to shortage of water, climte, insects and other problems, we have found greenhouses to be the most viable way to produce food in this area.
The farms will secure the basic vegetables needs of the local community. In addition, they will create jobs and improve the livelihoods of the community. As an investor the potential to make a good return on your investment is also high. We estimate that investors could make between 20-40% ROI while making a real social impact.
About livestock investment
Ordered animals can take several weeks for us to purchase them from the herders, move them to our farm and register them in the app. We will notify you by e-mail when your animals are added to the app. We appreciate your patience!
When you buy a camel, you get a share of the revenues from the milk the camel produces. After 12 months, you can either sell your camel or breed her. Every quarter we will be distributing dividends from the milk sales to camel owners. Quarterly dividends will be 8% of camel’s purchase value for 4 quarters or until the owner sells animals. To be eligible for dividends from the milk a user must own at least 30% of a camel. Payments will be deposited to the owner’s balance in the app.
We estimate upto 32% from the milk sales. You can use our simulation tool to get an estimate of how much ROI you can make and how big your impact will be.
You can sell your animals any time. When you decide to sell your animals, simply visit the app and press the sell button. We will pay you the current average market price you see in the app.
No. Although we will take care of the logistics of selling your animals but you will have to make the decision to sell your animals from the app.
No. You can always keep your animals as long as you wish.
Revenues from camel milk sales will be paid every 3 months. When you sell animals, the money is added to your balance in the App Account. You can use that money to re-invest or request to withdraw. If you request to withdraw we will verify your details and make the payment to your Bank Account. It can take up to 2 weeks depending on your location. The minimum withdrawal amount is $ 200.
We pay taxes when we buy and sell animals. As well as local business taxes. However, we trust the investors to pay their taxes in their countries if applicable.
Yes. We take 10% commission fee from the selling price. However, if you did not make any profits, we will not take a commission.
All the expenses related to the maintenance of the animals are generated from the milk sales.
No, but you own specific number of animals you purchased in our operation. That means, if you come to our farm and want to take your 5 goats, we will give you 5 goats.
No worries. Since you don’t own a specific animals, this will not affect you personally.
About the impact
Yes, in the app dashboard you can see statistics about how your investment makes a local impact.
We buy animals from nomads who are livestock farmers in Somalia and Kenya. Almost all of the livestock in Somalia are owned by the nomads.
Our operations make several direct social impacts.
1. We create jobs for former nomads who work at our farms. These are people who lost their animals to climate issues and have moved to the cities. They take care of the farms, the plants and animals, sell the produce and buy animals.
2. We are making local communities self-reliant as we provide locally produced food that is more available and cheaper than the food that they import from neighbouring countries.
3. We provide market to nomads who want to sell their animals to us.
4. Agriculture is big part of the economies of Somalia and Kenya. We are bringing international investment to this vital part of the economy.
Agriculture is the biggest employer in all of East African countries. In Somalia, agriculture represents 75% of the country's economy. About half of Somalia's population of 12 million are nomads whose only assets are livestock.
About the local market
Local livestock traders usually appraise the animals and offer the best price. There are a lot of negotiations and bargaining.
In our app you can see the current average market prices and historical changes. Prices are updated every Monday.
Every town in Somalia has its own livestock market, where nomads bring their animals and traders buy from them. Animals are appraised by the traders and after intensive bargaining prices are agreed and payments are made.
Most of the animals sold in the market are male goats, sheep, camels, cattle. Some of the animals are bought for export and others for local meat and milk consumption.
Nowadays, most payments in Somalia are made through the mobile. After a deal, numbers are exchanged and payments are transferred to the mobile depending on the quantity of animals.
Every week our team calls the local livestock markets in towns close to our farms and then we make an average based on different quality of animals.
About the animals
Almost all of the livestock in Somalia is owned by pastoral nomads who live in the countryside.
Nomads need to sell their animals in exchange for food. The animals are their only asset.
Unfortunately that is no longer possible as it has put too much workload on our local team.
Yes, you can send animals to friends and family by just typing their e-mail address. They will receive a message from us.
Yes. You can do that in the app. Our local team will then find a suitable recipient and send you a picture and a thank you note from them.
