a youth strategy for caribbean agriculture

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