1. A Strategy for
Youth Entrepreneurship &
Employment in Agriculture:
A Caribbean Perspective
Keeley Holder
Nov 14th, 2012
2. 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
3. Caribbean Opportunities
Food, Oil, Economic, Environmental, He
alth 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
4. Caribbean Opportunities
Old Agriculture:
Strong Reminder of Poverty & Colonialism
that is “Best Forgotten/Ignored”
Smart Agriculture:
Exciting, Fulfilling, Financially Rewarding
& Socially Acceptable
5. 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
6. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. Empowering Youth:
The Key Things To Be Done
3. Supporting Framework:
Access to expertise & opportunities for
collaboration
Align them w/ influential SPONSORS
12. Empowering Youth:
The Key Things To Be Done
3. Supporting Framework:
Access to expertise & opportunities for
collaboration
Align them w/ influential SPONSORS
13. 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
14. 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