a youth strategy for caribbean agriculture
DESCRIPTION
A Strategy for Youth Entrepreneurship & Employment in Agriculture: A Caribbean PerspectiveTRANSCRIPT
A Strategy forYouth Entrepreneurship
& Employment in Agriculture:
Keeley HolderNov 14th, 2012
A Caribbean Perspective
Caribbean Opportunities
Successful sectors saturated with talent Youth unemployment biggest
developmental challenge Agriculture NOT saturated
Youth ardent about creating dynamic solutions to complex problems There’s a hidden complexity in agriculture
Caribbean Opportunities
Food, Oil, Economic, Environmental, Health Crises Agriculture thrives in a recession
Agriculture is knowledge intensive > Youth pursuing knowledge at UWI
Greater access to information through ICTs Use of ICTs appeal to Youth
Caribbean Opportunities
Old Agriculture: Strong Reminder of Poverty & Colonialism
that is “Best Forgotten/Ignored”
Smart Agriculture: Exciting, Fulfilling, Financially Rewarding &
Socially Acceptable
Caribbean Reality: The Fruit & Vegetable Industry
Declining & de-emphasised last 30 year
Short term gains, long term pains
Overall profitability being eroded
Farmer only knowledge worker
Caribbean Reality: The Fruit & Vegetable Industry
Not business-driven
Few opportunities for private professionals & researchers
Little opportunity to: OBSERVE globally competitive
farms/institutions
Not competitive recruiting/keeping talent
Caribbean Reality: Support Systems
WEAK INTERACTIONS
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
Success Breeds Success
1. Select a “small” group youth w/ right talents
2. Equip them w/ needed skills for long-term success
3. Provide supporting framework for long-term success
4. Leaders MUST create “spaces” for other youth to participate
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
1. Attract talent that have SKILLS to be excel in this reality:
3Ds – Determination, Desire, Dedication Self-motivated, Intensely focussed, People-
centred Passion & Empathy; Purpose & Objectivity Lifelong Learners, Quick Learners “Perspective Thinkers” Can Handle Failure
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
2. Provide talent with other SKILLS needed:
STRATEGIC Thinking, Problem-SOLVING, Analytical
Leadership & Team Building Negotiating & Decision Making Time MANAGEMENT (esp. Women) Knowledge Management (filtering, relevance) Global Literacy
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
3. Supporting Framework:
Access to expertise & opportunities for collaboration
Align them w/ influential SPONSORS
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
3. Supporting Framework:
Access to expertise & opportunities for collaboration
Align them w/ influential SPONSORS
Empowering Youth: The Key Things To Be Done
3. Supporting Framework:
Mentorship Find people w/ knowledge (tacit/explicit) &
experience and Don’t Waste Their Time More Ears, Less Mouth Don’t let gender/age be an obstacle We need to learn MUCH MORE than they
need to teach us
Empowering Youth: Changing the Status Quo
4. Creating spaces for other youth:
Build globally competitive models Opportunities to work/trial (internships,
apprenticeships) Opportunities to observe (believing is seeing)
Build smart partnerships Breaking the “short-term gains” cycle
Thank You