that’s not for me that’s definitely not for me was the response I constantly
for me was the response I constantly
for me was the response I constantly gave whenever I was asked if I’d
gave whenever I was asked if I’d
gave whenever I was asked if I’d consider Korean agriculture when I was a
consider Korean agriculture when I was a
consider Korean agriculture when I was a student in this very same school about
student in this very same school about
student in this very same school about ten years ago
ten years ago
ten years ago teachers would often ask us if we wanted
teachers would often ask us if we wanted
teachers would often ask us if we wanted to follow in our parents footsteps
to follow in our parents footsteps
to follow in our parents footsteps you know like mother like daughter but
you know like mother like daughter but
you know like mother like daughter but no I mean my mom likes cream and I’m
no I mean my mom likes cream and I’m
no I mean my mom likes cream and I’m biased towards all things yellow
biased towards all things yellow
biased towards all things yellow she likes to garden and I’d rather be
she likes to garden and I’d rather be
she likes to garden and I’d rather be painting flowers in an art class now
painting flowers in an art class now
painting flowers in an art class now don’t even get me started on the fact
don’t even get me started on the fact
don’t even get me started on the fact that she’s a science whiz because Miss
that she’s a science whiz because Miss
that she’s a science whiz because Miss sangani can vouch that I never had any
sangani can vouch that I never had any
sangani can vouch that I never had any chemistry with any of the STEM subjects
chemistry with any of the STEM subjects
chemistry with any of the STEM subjects I just didn’t see how I could fit in
I just didn’t see how I could fit in
I just didn’t see how I could fit in this realm but I’m not alone in this see
this realm but I’m not alone in this see
this realm but I’m not alone in this see if how to ask any of you what sort of
if how to ask any of you what sort of
if how to ask any of you what sort of imagery comes to mind whenever you hear
imagery comes to mind whenever you hear
imagery comes to mind whenever you hear the words farming in Africa what do you
the words farming in Africa what do you
the words farming in Africa what do you think of do you think of maize fields in
think of do you think of maize fields in
think of do you think of maize fields in transia or maybe it’s chicken clucking
transia or maybe it’s chicken clucking
transia or maybe it’s chicken clucking and livestock bleating to be fed or what
and livestock bleating to be fed or what
and livestock bleating to be fed or what about those green luscious tea
about those green luscious tea
about those green luscious tea plantations that you often find on
plantations that you often find on
plantations that you often find on safari commands or do you think of her
safari commands or do you think of her
safari commands or do you think of her you know the personification of it all
you know the personification of it all
you know the personification of it all that old African woman dawned in
that old African woman dawned in
that old African woman dawned in traditional fabric holding a hoe as she
traditional fabric holding a hoe as she
traditional fabric holding a hoe as she plows the land now my mother isn’t a
plows the land now my mother isn’t a
plows the land now my mother isn’t a farmer she’s actually a development
farmer she’s actually a development
farmer she’s actually a development practitioner in the field but more often
practitioner in the field but more often
practitioner in the field but more often than not the illustration I just
than not the illustration I just
than not the illustration I just presented is what’s plastered all over
presented is what’s plastered all over
presented is what’s plastered all over our TV sets on publications and perhaps
our TV sets on publications and perhaps
our TV sets on publications and perhaps even engrained in your mind whenever
even engrained in your mind whenever
even engrained in your mind whenever agriculture in sub-saharan Africa is
agriculture in sub-saharan Africa is
agriculture in sub-saharan Africa is mentioned the pervasiveness of this
mentioned the pervasiveness of this
mentioned the pervasiveness of this imagery has shaped a perception that
imagery has shaped a perception that
imagery has shaped a perception that just isn’t enticing for young people
just isn’t enticing for young people
just isn’t enticing for young people like you and I however that all changed
like you and I however that all changed
like you and I however that all changed for me recently when I unexpectedly
for me recently when I unexpectedly
for me recently when I unexpectedly found myself working in the sector I
found myself working in the sector I
found myself working in the sector I spent the past two years as a
spent the past two years as a
spent the past two years as a communication associate Wernet on
communication associate Wernet on
communication associate Wernet on occasion I attend conferences that
occasion I attend conferences that
occasion I attend conferences that discuss the growing concern about
discuss the growing concern about
discuss the growing concern about food security on the continent namely
food security on the continent namely
food security on the continent namely how the average age of farmers in Africa
how the average age of farmers in Africa
how the average age of farmers in Africa 60 and yet youth who’d be most equipped
60 and yet youth who’d be most equipped
60 and yet youth who’d be most equipped to take over just don’t see it as cool
to take over just don’t see it as cool
to take over just don’t see it as cool or viable enough to forge a successful
or viable enough to forge a successful
or viable enough to forge a successful career in now I’m not gonna bore you
career in now I’m not gonna bore you
career in now I’m not gonna bore you about the statistics of this problem
about the statistics of this problem
about the statistics of this problem instead I’m gonna tell you about Lehr
instead I’m gonna tell you about Lehr
instead I’m gonna tell you about Lehr now her story isn’t the kind that Steven
now her story isn’t the kind that Steven
now her story isn’t the kind that Steven Spielberg would be rushing over to make
Spielberg would be rushing over to make
Spielberg would be rushing over to make an oscar-worthy movie out of in fact she
an oscar-worthy movie out of in fact she
an oscar-worthy movie out of in fact she sounds like the average Jane the pretty
sounds like the average Jane the pretty
sounds like the average Jane the pretty good eyebrows smart sassy always fashion
good eyebrows smart sassy always fashion
good eyebrows smart sassy always fashion savvy there’s a 28 year old mom from
savvy there’s a 28 year old mom from
savvy there’s a 28 year old mom from Yahoo in Kenya
Yahoo in Kenya
Yahoo in Kenya but what sets her apart is the fact that
but what sets her apart is the fact that
but what sets her apart is the fact that she was in one of the four contestants
she was in one of the four contestants
she was in one of the four contestants in an experiment of sorts devised by the
in an experiment of sorts devised by the
in an experiment of sorts devised by the organization I work for now in you in
organization I work for now in you in
organization I work for now in you in order to get young people into farming
order to get young people into farming
order to get young people into farming we had to repackage it as a profitable
we had to repackage it as a profitable
we had to repackage it as a profitable Enterprise they needed to be encouraged
Enterprise they needed to be encouraged
Enterprise they needed to be encouraged to go into agribusiness instead of
to go into agribusiness instead of
to go into agribusiness instead of traditional farming so we created
traditional farming so we created
traditional farming so we created produced a reality TV show called don’t
produced a reality TV show called don’t
produced a reality TV show called don’t lose the plot question if I were to ask
lose the plot question if I were to ask
lose the plot question if I were to ask any one of you to live on a farm with a
any one of you to live on a farm with a
any one of you to live on a farm with a bunch of strangers for nine months for
bunch of strangers for nine months for
bunch of strangers for nine months for the chance of winning 1 million Kenyan
the chance of winning 1 million Kenyan
the chance of winning 1 million Kenyan shillings that’s about 10,000 US dollars
shillings that’s about 10,000 US dollars
shillings that’s about 10,000 US dollars who would take me up on that offer
who would take me up on that offer
who would take me up on that offer well we selected four young individuals
well we selected four young individuals
well we selected four young individuals from Kenya and Tanzania we put them on
from Kenya and Tanzania we put them on
from Kenya and Tanzania we put them on the farm on the outskirts of Nairobi and
the farm on the outskirts of Nairobi and
the farm on the outskirts of Nairobi and at the end of the nine-month period
at the end of the nine-month period
at the end of the nine-month period whoever made the most money in the most
whoever made the most money in the most
whoever made the most money in the most sustainable way got to keep the plot or
sustainable way got to keep the plot or
sustainable way got to keep the plot or win the investment worth 1 million now
win the investment worth 1 million now
win the investment worth 1 million now throughout the competition layer with
throughout the competition layer with
throughout the competition layer with certain she was gonna win in fact she
certain she was gonna win in fact she
certain she was gonna win in fact she couldn’t stop bragging about it but in
couldn’t stop bragging about it but in
couldn’t stop bragging about it but in the end she didn’t in fact she was lost
the end she didn’t in fact she was lost
the end she didn’t in fact she was lost but the objective of the show was to
but the objective of the show was to
but the objective of the show was to encourage young people into farming and
encourage young people into farming and
encourage young people into farming and that was achieved when the show wrapped
that was achieved when the show wrapped
that was achieved when the show wrapped in early August layers grandmother gave
in early August layers grandmother gave
in early August layers grandmother gave her a piece of land
her a piece of land
her a piece of land and with the little prize money that she
and with the little prize money that she
and with the little prize money that she did win she now has a profitable
did win she now has a profitable
did win she now has a profitable enterprise growing green peas and
enterprise growing green peas and
enterprise growing green peas and mushrooms now who would have thought
mushrooms now who would have thought
mushrooms now who would have thought that a beautiful young lady such as Lehr
that a beautiful young lady such as Lehr
that a beautiful young lady such as Lehr could ever get those perfectly manicured
could ever get those perfectly manicured
could ever get those perfectly manicured nails dirty now I might just singled out
nails dirty now I might just singled out
nails dirty now I might just singled out layer but one challenge that all
layer but one challenge that all
layer but one challenge that all contestants had was in budgeting now
contestants had was in budgeting now
contestants had was in budgeting now going in it was foreseen that this would
going in it was foreseen that this would
going in it was foreseen that this would be an issue not just for the contestants
be an issue not just for the contestants
be an issue not just for the contestants but for the three million viewers who
but for the three million viewers who
but for the three million viewers who tuned in each week so together with
tuned in each week so together with
tuned in each week so together with Mercy Corps a Griffin accelerate we
Mercy Corps a Griffin accelerate we
Mercy Corps a Griffin accelerate we developed a budgeting tool that will
developed a budgeting tool that will
developed a budgeting tool that will allow aspiring and inexperienced farmers
allow aspiring and inexperienced farmers
allow aspiring and inexperienced farmers to do so in a profitable and sustainable
to do so in a profitable and sustainable
to do so in a profitable and sustainable manner
manner
manner hence budget McInerney came to life
hence budget McInerney came to life
hence budget McInerney came to life essentially it is a web-based
essentially it is a web-based
essentially it is a web-based agricultural budgeting tool that allows
agricultural budgeting tool that allows
agricultural budgeting tool that allows users to view estimated costs of various
users to view estimated costs of various
users to view estimated costs of various commodities as well as the profits that
commodities as well as the profits that
commodities as well as the profits that they can make all you have to do is log
they can make all you have to do is log
they can make all you have to do is log on to the don’t lizard Park website
on to the don’t lizard Park website
on to the don’t lizard Park website click on budget McInerney and select one
click on budget McInerney and select one
click on budget McInerney and select one of the commodities then he and amounted
of the commodities then he and amounted
of the commodities then he and amounted acres you want a farm and it will
acres you want a farm and it will
acres you want a farm and it will generate your budget
generate your budget
generate your budget now the budgets are created to be as
now the budgets are created to be as
now the budgets are created to be as realistic and personalized as possible
realistic and personalized as possible
realistic and personalized as possible so you can add items remove certain you
so you can add items remove certain you
so you can add items remove certain you can remove items as well as edit the
can remove items as well as edit the
can remove items as well as edit the costs once you’re done you can download
costs once you’re done you can download
costs once you’re done you can download the budget share with friends and family
the budget share with friends and family
the budget share with friends and family or even use it to get a loan from a
or even use it to get a loan from a
or even use it to get a loan from a financial institution ultimately with
financial institution ultimately with
financial institution ultimately with such solutions at hand the days that
such solutions at hand the days that
such solutions at hand the days that farming was the poor man’s venture or
farming was the poor man’s venture or
farming was the poor man’s venture or the domain of the uneducated are gone
the domain of the uneducated are gone
the domain of the uneducated are gone through modern and technological
through modern and technological
through modern and technological advancements today’s agriculture is
advancements today’s agriculture is
advancements today’s agriculture is breaking the mold and a new frontier
breaking the mold and a new frontier
breaking the mold and a new frontier farming that is young vibrant and
farming that is young vibrant and
farming that is young vibrant and innovative is available for the taking
innovative is available for the taking
innovative is available for the taking so don’t let the color of the color be a
so don’t let the color of the color be a
so don’t let the color of the color be a determinant for success instead realize
determinant for success instead realize
determinant for success instead realize that Africa has huge potential that goes
that Africa has huge potential that goes
that Africa has huge potential that goes beyond the white versus blue binary even
beyond the white versus blue binary even
beyond the white versus blue binary even if you decide not to be an agribusiness
if you decide not to be an agribusiness
if you decide not to be an agribusiness intrapreneur LeClair
intrapreneur LeClair
intrapreneur LeClair go get yourself an Ivy League law degree
go get yourself an Ivy League law degree
go get yourself an Ivy League law degree and contribute to land legislation study
and contribute to land legislation study
and contribute to land legislation study film and direct an award-winning
film and direct an award-winning
film and direct an award-winning agricultural documentary be an IT guru
agricultural documentary be an IT guru
agricultural documentary be an IT guru developing uber-like apps that allow cha
developing uber-like apps that allow cha
developing uber-like apps that allow cha that allow farmers to transfer goods at
that allow farmers to transfer goods at
that allow farmers to transfer goods at the click of a button or work for the
the click of a button or work for the
the click of a button or work for the World Bank as an economist influencing
World Bank as an economist influencing
World Bank as an economist influencing how national budgets are allocated
how national budgets are allocated
how national budgets are allocated towards agriculture even develop aerial
towards agriculture even develop aerial
towards agriculture even develop aerial drones as a software engineer they allow
drones as a software engineer they allow
drones as a software engineer they allow farmers to not had to analyze crops and
farmers to not had to analyze crops and
farmers to not had to analyze crops and soil
soil
soil simply put whether you’re the kind of
simply put whether you’re the kind of
simply put whether you’re the kind of person who looks at things in a half
person who looks at things in a half
person who looks at things in a half glass full or a half glass empty kind of
glass full or a half glass empty kind of
glass full or a half glass empty kind of way
way
way realize that the cup has something in it
realize that the cup has something in it
realize that the cup has something in it so drink from it eight hundred and forty
so drink from it eight hundred and forty
so drink from it eight hundred and forty four million people go without water
four million people go without water
four million people go without water each day and it would be a shame if you
each day and it would be a shame if you
each day and it would be a shame if you didn’t drink out of the cup of
didn’t drink out of the cup of
didn’t drink out of the cup of opportunity that the agricultural
opportunity that the agricultural
opportunity that the agricultural industry has to offer now I might have
industry has to offer now I might have
industry has to offer now I might have started this journey saying that’s not
started this journey saying that’s not
started this journey saying that’s not for me but somewhere along the line I
for me but somewhere along the line I
for me but somewhere along the line I realized that every opportunity that
realized that every opportunity that
realized that every opportunity that lands in your lap is a learning
lands in your lap is a learning
lands in your lap is a learning experience even if it’s not where you
experience even if it’s not where you
experience even if it’s not where you saw yourself it’s an avenue for growth
saw yourself it’s an avenue for growth
saw yourself it’s an avenue for growth both for you and the beautiful continent
both for you and the beautiful continent
both for you and the beautiful continent that we inhabit so don’t limit yourself
that we inhabit so don’t limit yourself
that we inhabit so don’t limit yourself into thinking that you have to study a
into thinking that you have to study a
into thinking that you have to study a particular set of subjects stick to
particular set of subjects stick to
particular set of subjects stick to working in certain area or that your
working in certain area or that your
working in certain area or that your career path will follow a linear
career path will follow a linear
career path will follow a linear trajectory you don’t even have to
trajectory you don’t even have to
trajectory you don’t even have to compromise on what you’re passionate
compromise on what you’re passionate
compromise on what you’re passionate about you just simply have to be willing
about you just simply have to be willing
about you just simply have to be willing to adapt and immerse yourself to
to adapt and immerse yourself to
to adapt and immerse yourself to whatever comes your way and if there’s
whatever comes your way and if there’s
whatever comes your way and if there’s one thing that I’ve come to appreciate
one thing that I’ve come to appreciate
one thing that I’ve come to appreciate that I used to take for granted it is
that I used to take for granted it is
that I used to take for granted it is this if you ate today thank a farmer how
this if you ate today thank a farmer how
this if you ate today thank a farmer how many of you have ever stopped to do so
many of you have ever stopped to do so
many of you have ever stopped to do so ultimately farming had comes in many
ultimately farming had comes in many
ultimately farming had comes in many forms and many shapes has many faces and
forms and many shapes has many faces and
forms and many shapes has many faces and many rules and maybe one day just maybe
many rules and maybe one day just maybe
many rules and maybe one day just maybe you will say hey it is for me and I
you will say hey it is for me and I
you will say hey it is for me and I and the rest of Africa will have you to
and the rest of Africa will have you to
and the rest of Africa will have you to thank for the food on our plates thank
thank for the food on our plates thank
thank for the food on our plates thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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