UNDERSTANDING THE AGRO OPPORTUNITY
The problem of food insecurity has been a topic of utmost concern to development experts. It is known that when a country achieves food security: they become stable; they become economically viable; they progress and most importantly, can leap from a developing to a developed nation – when this happens, its people also advance in life. It may be true to say that the key factor in the advancement of Western countries has been their food security.
If this is true then the question is: why are development experts, multinationals, philanthropist, donors, angels and development organizations still not able to establish, initiate, support, promote/ fund viable ideas that will alleviate poverty using food security measures?
With over one hundred thousand NGOs working in and for Africa, no forward movement seems to occur. One may be tempted to say these organizations are more of a curse than a blessing. They have only raised the smoke from the burning flames of poverty. With pictures of poor people all over the internet, poverty has become more visual and yet, even more chronic.
Before slavery and colonialism, Africa stood very tall.
The solutions to Africa’s problem is found in Africa. It is found in the African people. It starts with learning “Africa, its people, its cultures, its history and appreciating its food”. Knowledge about Africa gives us the power to ignite change and transform the continent. If you are constantly being insulted that you are an idiot, you will grow up think and acting like an idiot. This is the problem about Africa, its countries and its people. We do not know what we do not know – which is the REALITY but know so much about what we have been told – the ILLUSION.
Africa is regarded to be POOR because over 60% of the entire population is DESCRIBED as being poor. They are known to be HUNGRY and lack access to basic necessities. Ironically, this is the same population group that is the most hardworking and a majority of them involved in agriculture.
In Africa, we started with AGRICULTURE and will end with AGRICULTURE and not OIL nor COMPUTERS. AGRICULTURE is the one thing we founded and seem to know best. OUR soils have been BLESSED with that and nothing else. AGRICULTURE is the ONLY thing that can UNITE us all again. It is the vehicle to achieving our DREAM of a SUSTAINABLE continent. It doesn’t matter how many trained and well educated/respected African we have in Africa and abroad; it doesn’t matter how many NGOs are been created and formed to alleviate poverty; it doesn’t matter how many new leaders are trained in the West to lead in Africa; it doesn’t matter how much aid is being sent to Africa; it doesn’t matter how many peace corps and other volunteers/missionaries/armed forces are deployed for work in Africa; it doesn’t matter how many sanctions against governments nor how much is said and written about Africa and its people. What matters most is what we, as Africans, do to attain a state of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and hence, FOOD SECURITY.
If we treat “POVERTY” as though it was HUMAN and it is SICK of FOOD INSECUTY. Therefore, we say, POVERTY is HUNGRY so let’s FEED it. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE is the CURE. It has worked in all other places and Africa is not exempted. When we think of sustainable agriculture, we think of applying sustainable innovations along with a sustainable business model for sustainable outcomes. We must change the 500 years of traditional agriculture and introduce innovative techniques that have been tested along with a culturally compatible business model. Africa will become the SOURCE and not the END. When we FEED, we become HEALTHY, then we get WEALTHY before we think of UNITY: FOOD = HEALTH = WEALTH.
At GreenHouse Ventures , we believe we have found a way to feed ourselves and then the rest of the world - our green and sustainable farms.
If we all engage in understanding the root cause then we will be engaged in finding the solutions as well.The problem of food insecurity has been a topic of utmost concern to development experts. It is known that when a country achieves food security: they become stable; they become economically viable; they progress and most importantly, can leap from a developing to a developed nation – when this happens, its people also advance in life. It may be true to say that the key factor in the advancement of Western countries has been their food security.
If this is true then the question is: why are development experts, multinationals, philanthropist, donors, angels and development organizations still not able to establish, initiate, support, promote/ fund viable ideas that will alleviate poverty using food security measures?
With over one hundred thousand NGOs working in and for Africa, no forward movement seems to occur. One may be tempted to say these organizations are more of a curse than a blessing. They have only raised the smoke from the burning flames of poverty. With pictures of poor people all over the internet, poverty has become more visual and yet, even more chronic.
Before slavery and colonialism, Africa stood very tall.The solutions to Africa’s problem is found in Africa. It is found in the African people. It starts with learning “Africa, its people, its cultures, its history and appreciating its food”. Knowledge about Africa gives us the power to ignite change and transform the continent. If you are constantly being insulted that you are an idiot, you will grow up think and acting like an idiot. This is the problem about Africa, its countries and its people. We do not know what we do not know – which is the REALITY but know so much about what we have been told – the ILLUSION.
Africa is regarded to be POOR because over 60% of the entire population is DESCRIBED as being poor. They are known to be HUNGRY and lack access to basic necessities. Ironically, this is the same population group that is the most hardworking and a majority of them involved in agriculture.
In Africa, we started with AGRICULTURE and will end with AGRICULTURE and not OIL nor COMPUTERS. AGRICULTURE is the one thing we founded and seem to know best. OUR soils have been BLESSED with that and nothing else. AGRICULTURE is the ONLY thing that can UNITE us all again. It is the vehicle to achieving our DREAM of a SUSTAINABLE continent. It doesn’t matter how many trained and well educated/respected African we have in Africa and abroad; it doesn’t matter how many NGOs are been created and formed to alleviate poverty; it doesn’t matter how many new leaders are trained in the West to lead in Africa; it doesn’t matter how much aid is being sent to Africa; it doesn’t matter how many peace corps and other volunteers/missionaries/armed forces are deployed for work in Africa; it doesn’t matter how many sanctions against governments nor how much is said and written about Africa and its people. What matters most is what we, as Africans, do to attain a state of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and hence, FOOD SECURITY.
If we treat “POVERTY” as though it was HUMAN and it is SICK of FOOD INSECUTY. Therefore, we say, POVERTY is HUNGRY so let’s FEED it. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE is the CURE. It has worked in all other places and Africa is not exempted. When we think of sustainable agriculture, we think of applying sustainable innovations along with a sustainable business model for sustainable outcomes. We must change the 500 years of traditional agriculture and introduce innovative techniques that have been tested along with a culturally compatible business model. Africa will become the SOURCE and not the END. When we FEED, we become HEALTHY, then we get WEALTHY before we think of UNITY: FOOD = HEALTH = WEALTH.
At GreenHouse Ventures , we believe we have found a way to feed ourselves and then the rest of the world - our green and sustainable farms.
If we all engage in understanding the root cause then we will be engaged in finding the solutions as well.
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