Written by Young Farmers’ Clubs Zimbabwe
The first in a series from the Agripreneurship Summit (2013)
Youth at the Agripreneurship Summit
BREAKING BARRIERS
Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you thought you couldn’t.- Rikki Rogers
The Agripreneurship Summit was held from the 10th to the 12th of December, 2013 at the Harare Institute of Technology. Under the title “Breaking Barriers” the summit promised to address and provide solutions to the “barriers” that inhibit youths from realising their true agricultural and entrepreneurial potential.
The main aims of the event were:-
- To bring young people together to support them in developing their own action driven work plans
- To shape the development of youths’ communities and the empowerment of their peers
- To provide a platform for young people to become actively engaged in the agricultural sector
- To provide an avenue for agriculturally focused youth from around the nation to discuss the challenges of engaging in the agri-business sector
- To identify actionable agriculturally sustainable solutions to food production
- To share success stories of young people in agriculture
- To motivate the participants to remain proactive and maintain a high degree of persistence to succeed in the sector
- To encourage youth by showing them available opportunities within the agricultural sector
- To create an atmosphere that fosters business networks
The event was attended by scholars and key stakeholders in the agricultural and entrepreneurial sectors as well as more than 120 youths from across Zimbabwe.
Professor Mandi Rukuni (The Barefoot Education for Afrika Trust) gave the Keynote Speech.
The Barefoot Education for Afrika Trust (BEAT) believes that partnering with initiatives that engage the youth effectively in agriculture is essential to completing the “Long Walk to the Sustainability of Development in Africa”, and hence a crucial part of the Barefoot story.
Nuggets from Professor Rukuni
You are all you have and the answers lie within you. The only truth is one you discover for yourself. These are the highest values that create wealth. –Professor Rukuni
- BE BOLD! Take calculated risks
- BE CONFIDENT! Develop stamina, self-belief and self-reliance
- BE AMBITIOUS! Set high targets, think big, be positive, learn fast and challenge yourself
- BE ENTREPRENEURIAL! Work for yourself/ Be your own boss
- BE SELF-DRIVEN! Find answers that lie from within, generate your own plans and visions that articulate an attractive future
All in all the Summit put youth at the forefront of agricultural change and development in Zimbabwe.
It was emphasised by the speakers that:-
- Youth are Zimbabwe’s greatest asset
- Youth are an integral part of the solution to food security, unemployment and poverty FINALLY
- Youth should be partners, assets and a prerequisite for sustainable development, as they have a unique contribution to the present and future of agriculture in Zimbabwe
Below, link to the “Agripreneurship Summit” Report (PDF)
Young Farmers' Clubs (Zimbabwe) 