have you ever tried growing tomatoes you know actually planting a seed and
you know actually planting a seed and
you know actually planting a seed and seeing it grow and then keeping it alive
seeing it grow and then keeping it alive
seeing it grow and then keeping it alive for more than a month well well I did I
for more than a month well well I did I
for more than a month well well I did I tried and um this was the result but not
tried and um this was the result but not
tried and um this was the result but not all that impressive Rhett I mean if
all that impressive Rhett I mean if
all that impressive Rhett I mean if people like me are responsible for
people like me are responsible for
people like me are responsible for feeding the world we’re in a lot of
feeding the world we’re in a lot of
feeding the world we’re in a lot of trouble but then there’s my neighbor who
trouble but then there’s my neighbor who
trouble but then there’s my neighbor who did this you know it can be done
did this you know it can be done
did this you know it can be done same seed same conditions vastly
same seed same conditions vastly
same seed same conditions vastly different results here I mean we could
different results here I mean we could
different results here I mean we could have expected that I guess because he’s
have expected that I guess because he’s
have expected that I guess because he’s an agronomist and I’m just a marketing
an agronomist and I’m just a marketing
an agronomist and I’m just a marketing guy right but today I want to tell you a
guy right but today I want to tell you a
guy right but today I want to tell you a story of how gardening can change the
story of how gardening can change the
story of how gardening can change the world not just grow a few extra
world not just grow a few extra
world not just grow a few extra vegetables for the kitchen but how it
vegetables for the kitchen but how it
vegetables for the kitchen but how it becomes this powerful engine of economic
becomes this powerful engine of economic
becomes this powerful engine of economic transformation for a country like meme’
transformation for a country like meme’
transformation for a country like meme’ and how it can unleash economic success
and how it can unleash economic success
and how it can unleash economic success on a scale that would put Silicon Valley
on a scale that would put Silicon Valley
on a scale that would put Silicon Valley to shame when I talk about gardening of
to shame when I talk about gardening of
to shame when I talk about gardening of course I do mean agriculture and
course I do mean agriculture and
course I do mean agriculture and typically what you see is that
typically what you see is that
typically what you see is that agriculture plays a role of outsized
agriculture plays a role of outsized
agriculture plays a role of outsized importance for many countries that are
importance for many countries that are
importance for many countries that are at an early stage of economic
at an early stage of economic
at an early stage of economic development and in this memoirs no
development and in this memoirs no
development and in this memoirs no different right I mean you have a fast
different right I mean you have a fast
different right I mean you have a fast growing population most of whom are in
growing population most of whom are in
growing population most of whom are in the countryside and you can just see the
the countryside and you can just see the
the countryside and you can just see the importance of the agricultural sector to
importance of the agricultural sector to
importance of the agricultural sector to the overall country’s economy the
the overall country’s economy the
the overall country’s economy the interesting thing about Myanmar though
interesting thing about Myanmar though
interesting thing about Myanmar though is that the vast potential that we have
is that the vast potential that we have
is that the vast potential that we have that agriculture can continue to be this
that agriculture can continue to be this
that agriculture can continue to be this driver of the economy going forwards and
driver of the economy going forwards and
driver of the economy going forwards and we have this large land mass we have
we have this large land mass we have
we have this large land mass we have fantastically fertile soil and an
fantastically fertile soil and an
fantastically fertile soil and an amazing climate which means you can
amazing climate which means you can
amazing climate which means you can cultivate any number of crops all year
cultivate any number of crops all year
cultivate any number of crops all year round but it’s funny right because
round but it’s funny right because
round but it’s funny right because there’s this perception
there’s this perception
there’s this perception that if your country’s economy is based
that if your country’s economy is based
that if your country’s economy is based on farming well you’re going to be a
on farming well you’re going to be a
on farming well you’re going to be a poor country or this general belief that
poor country or this general belief that
poor country or this general belief that agriculture in a pinning your hopes on
agriculture in a pinning your hopes on
agriculture in a pinning your hopes on agriculture to develop the economy it’s
agriculture to develop the economy it’s
agriculture to develop the economy it’s not a smart thing to do or it’s because
not a smart thing to do or it’s because
not a smart thing to do or it’s because of this that Myanmar is a poor country I
of this that Myanmar is a poor country I
of this that Myanmar is a poor country I say that is nonsense that’s just not
say that is nonsense that’s just not
say that is nonsense that’s just not right and what we learn from examining
right and what we learn from examining
right and what we learn from examining the development of economies throughout
the development of economies throughout
the development of economies throughout the 20th century is this you can’t
the 20th century is this you can’t
the 20th century is this you can’t become a rich country until you’ve got
become a rich country until you’ve got
become a rich country until you’ve got agriculture right now it’s funny because
agriculture right now it’s funny because
agriculture right now it’s funny because all the time we kind of ignore
all the time we kind of ignore
all the time we kind of ignore agriculture in many countries it’s this
agriculture in many countries it’s this
agriculture in many countries it’s this implicit urban bias threat the presumed
implicit urban bias threat the presumed
implicit urban bias threat the presumed superiority of the city over the
superiority of the city over the
superiority of the city over the countryside of the urban over the rural
countryside of the urban over the rural
countryside of the urban over the rural and governments I mean not just here but
and governments I mean not just here but
and governments I mean not just here but governments all around the world they
governments all around the world they
governments all around the world they make policies that make perfect sense
make policies that make perfect sense
make policies that make perfect sense if you’re a city dweller but no sense at
if you’re a city dweller but no sense at
if you’re a city dweller but no sense at all if you’re a farmer in the
all if you’re a farmer in the
all if you’re a farmer in the countryside which is where everybody is
so if we understand just the fundamental
so if we understand just the fundamental importance of agriculture for our
importance of agriculture for our
importance of agriculture for our success in the success of many other
success in the success of many other
success in the success of many other countries I mean we can’t ignore it we
countries I mean we can’t ignore it we
countries I mean we can’t ignore it we can’t afford to ignore it we need to be
can’t afford to ignore it we need to be
can’t afford to ignore it we need to be taking pride in our agriculture we need
taking pride in our agriculture we need
taking pride in our agriculture we need to be proud of our farms and of our
to be proud of our farms and of our
to be proud of our farms and of our farming of the wealth of the beauty of
farming of the wealth of the beauty of
farming of the wealth of the beauty of these fantastic natural conditions it’s
these fantastic natural conditions it’s
these fantastic natural conditions it’s funny because all too often the reality
funny because all too often the reality
funny because all too often the reality of agriculture just doesn’t live up to
of agriculture just doesn’t live up to
of agriculture just doesn’t live up to the potential I mean here we are in
the potential I mean here we are in
the potential I mean here we are in Southeast Asia it’s the land of the
Southeast Asia it’s the land of the
Southeast Asia it’s the land of the smallholder farmer right so that means
smallholder farmer right so that means
smallholder farmer right so that means you have millions of small small plots
you have millions of small small plots
you have millions of small small plots of land which need to feed a family and
of land which need to feed a family and
of land which need to feed a family and also need to provide them as some kind
also need to provide them as some kind
also need to provide them as some kind of an income it’s pretty tough let me
of an income it’s pretty tough let me
of an income it’s pretty tough let me give you an example this is Mars in now
give you an example this is Mars in now
give you an example this is Mars in now Mars in cultivates the 3 acre plot of
Mars in cultivates the 3 acre plot of
Mars in cultivates the 3 acre plot of land just outside maguey in central
land just outside maguey in central
land just outside maguey in central Myanmar a she grows peanuts and maybe
Myanmar a she grows peanuts and maybe
Myanmar a she grows peanuts and maybe some sesame if she thinks that the rains
some sesame if she thinks that the rains
some sesame if she thinks that the rains are going to
are going to
are going to kind to her this year her farm isn’t
kind to her this year her farm isn’t
kind to her this year her farm isn’t irrigated which means that half the year
irrigated which means that half the year
irrigated which means that half the year it lies empty because there’s no water
it lies empty because there’s no water
it lies empty because there’s no water in her village pretty much everyone’s a
in her village pretty much everyone’s a
in her village pretty much everyone’s a farmer pretty much everyone’s poor now
farmer pretty much everyone’s poor now
farmer pretty much everyone’s poor now life here is precarious Mazen knows that
life here is precarious Mazen knows that
life here is precarious Mazen knows that if she doesn’t get the yield from the
if she doesn’t get the yield from the
if she doesn’t get the yield from the crop that she needs or the crop price
crop that she needs or the crop price
crop that she needs or the crop price dips she’s not going to have enough
dips she’s not going to have enough
dips she’s not going to have enough money to pay back the money lender who
money to pay back the money lender who
money to pay back the money lender who lent her money to buy the seed and the
lent her money to buy the seed and the
lent her money to buy the seed and the fertilizer and to send her child to
fertilizer and to send her child to
fertilizer and to send her child to school now if that happens then she may
school now if that happens then she may
school now if that happens then she may well lose the farm now it’s the same
well lose the farm now it’s the same
well lose the farm now it’s the same story again and again throughout the
story again and again throughout the
story again and again throughout the country you know these are the two
country you know these are the two
country you know these are the two biggest crops here in Myanmar we’ve
biggest crops here in Myanmar we’ve
biggest crops here in Myanmar we’ve we’ve got rice and we’ve got corn and if
we’ve got rice and we’ve got corn and if
we’ve got rice and we’ve got corn and if you’re comparing the average performance
you’re comparing the average performance
you’re comparing the average performance right the average yield from these farms
right the average yield from these farms
right the average yield from these farms niyama here in red is consistently
niyama here in red is consistently
niyama here in red is consistently underperforming our neighbors or the
underperforming our neighbors or the
underperforming our neighbors or the best in class I mean if you go back to
best in class I mean if you go back to
best in class I mean if you go back to what I said before about you know taking
what I said before about you know taking
what I said before about you know taking pride in agriculture we see these
pride in agriculture we see these
pride in agriculture we see these numbers but we think we’ve got so much
numbers but we think we’ve got so much
numbers but we think we’ve got so much work to do here and you say okay so if I
work to do here and you say okay so if I
work to do here and you say okay so if I asked you to say
asked you to say
asked you to say what does agriculture look like to you
what does agriculture look like to you
what does agriculture look like to you if it makes you proud right what is
if it makes you proud right what is
if it makes you proud right what is agriculture that we can be proud of what
agriculture that we can be proud of what
agriculture that we can be proud of what does it look like you might think of
does it look like you might think of
does it look like you might think of something like this right this is pivot
something like this right this is pivot
something like this right this is pivot irrigation in the Midwest of the US or
irrigation in the Midwest of the US or
irrigation in the Midwest of the US or maybe something like this this is a
maybe something like this this is a
maybe something like this this is a 20,000 acre mega farm in Argentina you
20,000 acre mega farm in Argentina you
20,000 acre mega farm in Argentina you know all these things big machines big
know all these things big machines big
know all these things big machines big scale remember the economists always
scale remember the economists always
scale remember the economists always tell us the importance of scale and it’s
tell us the importance of scale and it’s
tell us the importance of scale and it’s about efficiency right a higher scale
about efficiency right a higher scale
about efficiency right a higher scale you can be more efficient you can make
you can be more efficient you can make
you can be more efficient you can make you can make more money but these sorts
you can make more money but these sorts
you can make more money but these sorts of things have actually sparked
of things have actually sparked
of things have actually sparked revolutions in the past right and just
revolutions in the past right and just
revolutions in the past right and just think about the the Soviet Union or
think about the the Soviet Union or
think about the the Soviet Union or China I mean they had this vision of
China I mean they had this vision of
China I mean they had this vision of Agriculture and the Marxists and
Agriculture and the Marxists and
Agriculture and the Marxists and Chairman Mao they hated these small
Chairman Mao they hated these small
Chairman Mao they hated these small small
small
small Farms that you still see today
Farms that you still see today
Farms that you still see today throughout much of Asia they wanted to
throughout much of Asia they wanted to
throughout much of Asia they wanted to knock all the walls down pool all the
knock all the walls down pool all the
knock all the walls down pool all the resources and set everyone to work in
resources and set everyone to work in
resources and set everyone to work in these huge state farms you know this was
these huge state farms you know this was
these huge state farms you know this was gonna be the model of progressive
gonna be the model of progressive
gonna be the model of progressive agriculture that we can all be proud of
agriculture that we can all be proud of
agriculture that we can all be proud of well we’ve moved on a little from from
well we’ve moved on a little from from
well we’ve moved on a little from from these state farms but the thinking is
these state farms but the thinking is
these state farms but the thinking is largely the same the received wisdom we
largely the same the received wisdom we
largely the same the received wisdom we have for agriculture is scale you know
have for agriculture is scale you know
have for agriculture is scale you know big farms as few people as possible so
big farms as few people as possible so
big farms as few people as possible so this chap here in Iowa he farms a 500
this chap here in Iowa he farms a 500
this chap here in Iowa he farms a 500 acre farm just him and his father and
acre farm just him and his father and
acre farm just him and his father and well some rather large machinery behind
well some rather large machinery behind
well some rather large machinery behind him as well so is this the model of
him as well so is this the model of
him as well so is this the model of Agriculture that we are waiting for here
Agriculture that we are waiting for here
Agriculture that we are waiting for here in Myanmar is this what we want to
in Myanmar is this what we want to
in Myanmar is this what we want to recreate is this the panacea of
recreate is this the panacea of
recreate is this the panacea of productivity and efficiency that we need
productivity and efficiency that we need
productivity and efficiency that we need well actually no and all the data we
well actually no and all the data we
well actually no and all the data we have says exactly the opposite if you’re
have says exactly the opposite if you’re
have says exactly the opposite if you’re talking about growing food producing
talking about growing food producing
talking about growing food producing food from one patch of land how Maas in
food from one patch of land how Maas in
food from one patch of land how Maas in farms is vastly more productive than our
farms is vastly more productive than our
farms is vastly more productive than our friend from Iowa it doesn’t make sense
friend from Iowa it doesn’t make sense
friend from Iowa it doesn’t make sense right if you’ve got a farm like this I
right if you’ve got a farm like this I
right if you’ve got a farm like this I mean this is not the most productive
mean this is not the most productive
mean this is not the most productive farm you can get actually the most
farm you can get actually the most
farm you can get actually the most productive farm looks like this I mean
productive farm looks like this I mean
productive farm looks like this I mean what’s what’s going on well the thinking
what’s what’s going on well the thinking
what’s what’s going on well the thinking is this the more you can pay attention
is this the more you can pay attention
is this the more you can pay attention to each of the individual plants the
to each of the individual plants the
to each of the individual plants the more it will reward you let’s go back to
more it will reward you let’s go back to
more it will reward you let’s go back to gardening your field is your garden your
gardening your field is your garden your
gardening your field is your garden your crops will they’re individual plants
crops will they’re individual plants
crops will they’re individual plants that need to be nourished now when you
that need to be nourished now when you
that need to be nourished now when you have a five acre patch of land you can
have a five acre patch of land you can
have a five acre patch of land you can actually go up into your field and you
actually go up into your field and you
actually go up into your field and you can see oh yeah we need a bit more water
can see oh yeah we need a bit more water
can see oh yeah we need a bit more water here because the plants are a bit bigger
here because the plants are a bit bigger
here because the plants are a bit bigger over here well yeah I need a little bit
over here well yeah I need a little bit
over here well yeah I need a little bit more nutrition over here well there’s a
more nutrition over here well there’s a
more nutrition over here well there’s a bit of flooding and maybe the soil
bit of flooding and maybe the soil
bit of flooding and maybe the soil temperature needs some change in all
temperature needs some change in all
temperature needs some change in all these tiny tiny details
these tiny tiny details
these tiny tiny details that you can change and when you fix it
that you can change and when you fix it
that you can change and when you fix it you can access these phenomenal yield
you can access these phenomenal yield
you can access these phenomenal yield increases you can’t do that if you’ve
increases you can’t do that if you’ve
increases you can’t do that if you’ve got a twenty thousand acre mega farm
got a twenty thousand acre mega farm
got a twenty thousand acre mega farm right so what’s interesting is when you
right so what’s interesting is when you
right so what’s interesting is when you can compare smallholder agriculture with
can compare smallholder agriculture with
can compare smallholder agriculture with a large scale agriculture you know
a large scale agriculture you know
a large scale agriculture you know side-by-side and what we notice well
side-by-side and what we notice well
side-by-side and what we notice well I’ll show you some data in just a moment
I’ll show you some data in just a moment
I’ll show you some data in just a moment but go back to those state farms
but go back to those state farms
but go back to those state farms alongside the big collective you
alongside the big collective you
alongside the big collective you actually had these micro plots of land
actually had these micro plots of land
actually had these micro plots of land which served as a vegetable garden for
which served as a vegetable garden for
which served as a vegetable garden for the guys who were working on the farm
the guys who were working on the farm
the guys who were working on the farm that they produce food for them to eat
that they produce food for them to eat
that they produce food for them to eat so they could get through the day of
so they could get through the day of
so they could get through the day of hacking away at the rice what you see is
hacking away at the rice what you see is
hacking away at the rice what you see is the productivity between these micro
the productivity between these micro
the productivity between these micro plots and the rest of the farm I mean
plots and the rest of the farm I mean
plots and the rest of the farm I mean it’s it’s staggering so in China five
it’s it’s staggering so in China five
it’s it’s staggering so in China five percent of the state farm was actually
percent of the state farm was actually
percent of the state farm was actually these micro plots and it produced twenty
these micro plots and it produced twenty
these micro plots and it produced twenty percent of the food in the Soviet Union
percent of the food in the Soviet Union
percent of the food in the Soviet Union same thing two percent of the land were
same thing two percent of the land were
same thing two percent of the land were these micro plots and it produces 30
these micro plots and it produces 30
these micro plots and it produces 30 percent
percent
percent I mean we’ve got data from many other
I mean we’ve got data from many other
I mean we’ve got data from many other places from India from Brazil from from
places from India from Brazil from from
places from India from Brazil from from other parts of Europe it all says the
other parts of Europe it all says the
other parts of Europe it all says the same thing there’s no correlation
same thing there’s no correlation
same thing there’s no correlation between the size of a farm and its
between the size of a farm and its
between the size of a farm and its productivity so I mean it’s the same
productivity so I mean it’s the same
productivity so I mean it’s the same thing right how can you pay the most
thing right how can you pay the most
thing right how can you pay the most attention to your plants when they look
attention to your plants when they look
attention to your plants when they look like this then if they’re in a two acre
like this then if they’re in a two acre
like this then if they’re in a two acre plot of land just outside your village
think of a plantation this here is a
think of a plantation this here is a professional plantation in Malaysia and
professional plantation in Malaysia and
professional plantation in Malaysia and they’re growing oil palm right what you
they’re growing oil palm right what you
they’re growing oil palm right what you see is that around the edge of the
see is that around the edge of the
see is that around the edge of the plantation you you tend to get small
plantation you you tend to get small
plantation you you tend to get small holders who are growing the same crop
holders who are growing the same crop
holders who are growing the same crop and consistently these small holders
and consistently these small holders
and consistently these small holders will have better and more productive
will have better and more productive
will have better and more productive farms than the plantation okay that’s a
farms than the plantation okay that’s a
farms than the plantation okay that’s a pretty difficult message to deliver to
pretty difficult message to deliver to
pretty difficult message to deliver to this guy who’s running a multinational
this guy who’s running a multinational
this guy who’s running a multinational corporation and say look I’m sorry but
corporation and say look I’m sorry but
corporation and say look I’m sorry but you’re running a less productive farm
you’re running a less productive farm
you’re running a less productive farm than this guy in a cap but it’s worth me
than this guy in a cap but it’s worth me
than this guy in a cap but it’s worth me just clarifying that
just clarifying that
just clarifying that if we’re talking about productivity and
if we’re talking about productivity and
if we’re talking about productivity and efficiency it’s really important to
efficiency it’s really important to
efficiency it’s really important to understand that the definition of
understand that the definition of
understand that the definition of efficiency depends entirely on what your
efficiency depends entirely on what your
efficiency depends entirely on what your objective is what you’re trying to do
objective is what you’re trying to do
objective is what you’re trying to do these small holders can produce the most
these small holders can produce the most
these small holders can produce the most amount of food for a patch of land that
amount of food for a patch of land that
amount of food for a patch of land that that’s clear but what if your objective
that’s clear but what if your objective
that’s clear but what if your objective is return on investment so you know for
is return on investment so you know for
is return on investment so you know for the money and the resources you put in
the money and the resources you put in
the money and the resources you put in what’s the money that you get back well
what’s the money that you get back well
what’s the money that you get back well you get a vastly different picture and
you get a vastly different picture and
you get a vastly different picture and if you get it right
if you get it right
if you get it right large-scale agriculture can be
large-scale agriculture can be
large-scale agriculture can be incredibly attractive but it’s not
incredibly attractive but it’s not
incredibly attractive but it’s not enough to say well you know which one
enough to say well you know which one
enough to say well you know which one makes me the most money and let’s go and
makes me the most money and let’s go and
makes me the most money and let’s go and do that you’re missing the point if
do that you’re missing the point if
do that you’re missing the point if you’re running a country your objectives
you’re running a country your objectives
you’re running a country your objectives cannot be the same as if you’re running
cannot be the same as if you’re running
cannot be the same as if you’re running a business it’s not about the money it’s
a business it’s not about the money it’s
a business it’s not about the money it’s about people and the work that they do
about people and the work that they do
about people and the work that they do large-scale agriculture tries to
large-scale agriculture tries to
large-scale agriculture tries to minimize labor tries to minimize people
minimize labor tries to minimize people
minimize labor tries to minimize people just because people tend to be expensive
just because people tend to be expensive
just because people tend to be expensive and in many economies there’s something
and in many economies there’s something
and in many economies there’s something more productive for these people to be
more productive for these people to be
more productive for these people to be doing now for returns from the farm if
doing now for returns from the farm if
doing now for returns from the farm if you’re if it’s a small holder system
you’re if it’s a small holder system
you’re if it’s a small holder system that spread liberally across millions of
that spread liberally across millions of
that spread liberally across millions of farming families now when you have
farming families now when you have
farming families now when you have large-scale agriculture returns the
large-scale agriculture returns the
large-scale agriculture returns the money from the farm goes into the
money from the farm goes into the
money from the farm goes into the pockets of just a few people great news
pockets of just a few people great news
pockets of just a few people great news if you own that farm not so great news
if you own that farm not so great news
if you own that farm not so great news if you’re a farmer working on that farm
if you’re a farmer working on that farm
if you’re a farmer working on that farm so if you’re running a developing
so if you’re running a developing
so if you’re running a developing country your objective can’t possibly be
country your objective can’t possibly be
country your objective can’t possibly be to use as few people as possible I mean
to use as few people as possible I mean
to use as few people as possible I mean you’ve got a whole countryside full of
you’ve got a whole countryside full of
you’ve got a whole countryside full of them and honestly what else are they
them and honestly what else are they
them and honestly what else are they going to do where are we going to find
going to do where are we going to find
going to do where are we going to find jobs for them to do how are we going to
jobs for them to do how are we going to
jobs for them to do how are we going to create these jobs in the cities and can
create these jobs in the cities and can
create these jobs in the cities and can we really accommodate another few
we really accommodate another few
we really accommodate another few million people coming to these cities I
million people coming to these cities I
million people coming to these cities I mean it already feels as if we’re
mean it already feels as if we’re
mean it already feels as if we’re reaching some kind of an infrastructural
reaching some kind of an infrastructural
reaching some kind of an infrastructural crisis in in in some cities and it’s
crisis in in in some cities and it’s
crisis in in in some cities and it’s just not right
just not right
just not right that we should be having encouraging a
that we should be having encouraging a
that we should be having encouraging a few more million people to be coming to
few more million people to be coming to
few more million people to be coming to the city to try and find a job
the city to try and find a job
the city to try and find a job think about those whole communities who
think about those whole communities who
think about those whole communities who after decades of conflict they finally
after decades of conflict they finally
after decades of conflict they finally laid down their arms I don’t want to
laid down their arms I don’t want to
laid down their arms I don’t want to live a marginal existence in the cities
live a marginal existence in the cities
live a marginal existence in the cities they want to go back to their village
they want to go back to their village
they want to go back to their village they want to go home so you encourage
they want to go home so you encourage
they want to go home so you encourage people to stay in the countryside and be
people to stay in the countryside and be
people to stay in the countryside and be as productive as they can in doing what
as productive as they can in doing what
as productive as they can in doing what they’re doing which is agriculture
they’re doing which is agriculture
they’re doing which is agriculture now I said at the beginning I said you
now I said at the beginning I said you
now I said at the beginning I said you know no country can become a rich
know no country can become a rich
know no country can become a rich country until it’s got agriculture right
country until it’s got agriculture right
country until it’s got agriculture right now I want to take that just a step
now I want to take that just a step
now I want to take that just a step further and say that actually how you do
further and say that actually how you do
further and say that actually how you do agriculture is just as important
agriculture is just as important
agriculture is just as important so it’s either smallholder based or or
so it’s either smallholder based or or
so it’s either smallholder based or or or it’s not what’s interesting is that
or it’s not what’s interesting is that
or it’s not what’s interesting is that here in East Asia over the last 50 70
here in East Asia over the last 50 70
here in East Asia over the last 50 70 years you’ve got broadly two groupings
years you’ve got broadly two groupings
years you’ve got broadly two groupings of countries now Northeast Asia you’ve
of countries now Northeast Asia you’ve
of countries now Northeast Asia you’ve got some of the richest countries in the
got some of the richest countries in the
got some of the richest countries in the world right now they implemented land
world right now they implemented land
world right now they implemented land redistribution and had small holder
redistribution and had small holder
redistribution and had small holder friendly policies for agriculture after
friendly policies for agriculture after
friendly policies for agriculture after the Second World War
the Second World War
the Second World War now in the Southeast Asia typically they
now in the Southeast Asia typically they
now in the Southeast Asia typically they went for larger scale plantation based
went for larger scale plantation based
went for larger scale plantation based agriculture mostly as a hangover from
agriculture mostly as a hangover from
agriculture mostly as a hangover from the colonial experience now it’s hard to
the colonial experience now it’s hard to
the colonial experience now it’s hard to escape the conclusion that Southeast
escape the conclusion that Southeast
escape the conclusion that Southeast Asia is lagging behind Northeast Asia in
Asia is lagging behind Northeast Asia in
Asia is lagging behind Northeast Asia in this respect at this point
this respect at this point
this respect at this point it’s I have to admit that you know it’s
it’s I have to admit that you know it’s
it’s I have to admit that you know it’s not enough for me to stand here and say
not enough for me to stand here and say
not enough for me to stand here and say to all the farmers you can be wildly
to all the farmers you can be wildly
to all the farmers you can be wildly productive if you just put your head
productive if you just put your head
productive if you just put your head down and focus on growing better
down and focus on growing better
down and focus on growing better tomatoes right not better cabbages or
tomatoes right not better cabbages or
tomatoes right not better cabbages or whatever it is you’re growing there’s
whatever it is you’re growing there’s
whatever it is you’re growing there’s some significant infrastructure that you
some significant infrastructure that you
some significant infrastructure that you need in order to make this
need in order to make this
need in order to make this transformation happen now this first
transformation happen now this first
transformation happen now this first question of land
question of land
question of land it’s a thorny one okay and I’m not going
it’s a thorny one okay and I’m not going
it’s a thorny one okay and I’m not going to go into it today but just suffice to
to go into it today but just suffice to
to go into it today but just suffice to say if you have an asset your land
say if you have an asset your land
say if you have an asset your land you’re not going to invest in your asset
you’re not going to invest in your asset
you’re not going to invest in your asset unless you know it’s your asset
unless you know it’s your asset
unless you know it’s your asset training growing a better crop I mean it
training growing a better crop I mean it
training growing a better crop I mean it is people like me growing the food guys
is people like me growing the food guys
is people like me growing the food guys were in a lot of trouble financing how
were in a lot of trouble financing how
were in a lot of trouble financing how do you get the cash to buy the seed and
do you get the cash to buy the seed and
do you get the cash to buy the seed and the fertilizer and what you need to grow
the fertilizer and what you need to grow
the fertilizer and what you need to grow a crop and finally when you’ve grown a
a crop and finally when you’ve grown a
a crop and finally when you’ve grown a great crop how do you know that you can
great crop how do you know that you can
great crop how do you know that you can get it to market or that you can get a
get it to market or that you can get a
get it to market or that you can get a fair price for it so let’s assume that
fair price for it so let’s assume that
fair price for it so let’s assume that our venerable leaders I mean they’re
our venerable leaders I mean they’re
our venerable leaders I mean they’re here today or they’re big fans of Ted
here today or they’re big fans of Ted
here today or they’re big fans of Ted they see the talk and they say huh let’s
they see the talk and they say huh let’s
they see the talk and they say huh let’s do what the British guy said so they do
do what the British guy said so they do
do what the British guy said so they do all of this great
all of this great
all of this great okay well fast-forward a few years
okay well fast-forward a few years
okay well fast-forward a few years actually what you see is that as the
actually what you see is that as the
actually what you see is that as the productivity goes up the number of
productivity goes up the number of
productivity goes up the number of people you need actually goes down so
people you need actually goes down so
people you need actually goes down so people are freed up and now they have a
people are freed up and now they have a
people are freed up and now they have a choice well maybe they want to go to the
choice well maybe they want to go to the
choice well maybe they want to go to the city and find a job you know they can
city and find a job you know they can
city and find a job you know they can come back to the farm at harvest time
come back to the farm at harvest time
come back to the farm at harvest time now they get twin streams of income one
now they get twin streams of income one
now they get twin streams of income one from the farm and one from the city if
from the farm and one from the city if
from the farm and one from the city if they lose their job in the factory well
they lose their job in the factory well
they lose their job in the factory well they can come back to a productive
they can come back to a productive
they can come back to a productive smallholder farm and await the next
smallholder farm and await the next
smallholder farm and await the next opportunity just think of the resilience
opportunity just think of the resilience
opportunity just think of the resilience that that creates for a rural economy or
that that creates for a rural economy or
that that creates for a rural economy or alternatively well they stay where they
alternatively well they stay where they
alternatively well they stay where they are I mean just because you’re in the
are I mean just because you’re in the
are I mean just because you’re in the countryside doesn’t mean you need to
countryside doesn’t mean you need to
countryside doesn’t mean you need to grow stuff doesn’t mean you need to be a
grow stuff doesn’t mean you need to be a
grow stuff doesn’t mean you need to be a farmer there’s many things you can do
farmer there’s many things you can do
farmer there’s many things you can do right from breeding ducks to selling
right from breeding ducks to selling
right from breeding ducks to selling fertilizer to milling rice and using the
fertilizer to milling rice and using the
fertilizer to milling rice and using the profits from a farm to invest in your
profits from a farm to invest in your
profits from a farm to invest in your rural enterprise people this is rural
rural enterprise people this is rural
rural enterprise people this is rural entrepreneurship this is where it starts
entrepreneurship this is where it starts
entrepreneurship this is where it starts let’s be clear farmers are the ultimate
let’s be clear farmers are the ultimate
let’s be clear farmers are the ultimate entrepreneurs I mean they’re not sitting
entrepreneurs I mean they’re not sitting
entrepreneurs I mean they’re not sitting down tapping away on their laptop or
down tapping away on their laptop or
down tapping away on their laptop or wearing their hoody no but effectively
wearing their hoody no but effectively
wearing their hoody no but effectively they’re doing exactly the same thing
they’re doing exactly the same thing
they’re doing exactly the same thing right they’re using their assets their
right they’re using their assets their
right they’re using their assets their land and their labor to run their small
land and their labor to run their small
land and their labor to run their small business now many of us this we see the
business now many of us this we see the
business now many of us this we see the plight of these small holder farmers and
plight of these small holder farmers and
plight of these small holder farmers and you know we feel we want to
you know we feel we want to
you know we feel we want to we want to help them we want to donate
we want to help them we want to donate
we want to help them we want to donate we want to want to do something but let
we want to want to do something but let
we want to want to do something but let me tell you farmers don’t need that they
me tell you farmers don’t need that they
me tell you farmers don’t need that they don’t want it they just want to get on
don’t want it they just want to get on
don’t want it they just want to get on and run their business one final thought
and run their business one final thought
and run their business one final thought in many countries we’ve reached the
in many countries we’ve reached the
in many countries we’ve reached the stage of development where we simply do
stage of development where we simply do
stage of development where we simply do not understand the value of our farmers
not understand the value of our farmers
not understand the value of our farmers right we delegate the most fundamental
right we delegate the most fundamental
right we delegate the most fundamental responsibility of our lives which is to
responsibility of our lives which is to
responsibility of our lives which is to feed our family to a group of people who
feed our family to a group of people who
feed our family to a group of people who live in some of them most difficult
live in some of them most difficult
live in some of them most difficult conditions imaginable we are free to
conditions imaginable we are free to
conditions imaginable we are free to live our lives and chase our goals and
live our lives and chase our goals and
live our lives and chase our goals and our ambitions simply because we don’t
our ambitions simply because we don’t
our ambitions simply because we don’t have to worry about growing food every
have to worry about growing food every
have to worry about growing food every day these farmers they’re not to be
day these farmers they’re not to be
day these farmers they’re not to be pitied they’re not to be ignored they
pitied they’re not to be ignored they
pitied they’re not to be ignored they are to be recognized as a fundamentally
are to be recognized as a fundamentally
are to be recognized as a fundamentally important part of our society the
important part of our society the
important part of our society the foundation on which all of our success
foundation on which all of our success
foundation on which all of our success is based let’s face it without farmers
is based let’s face it without farmers
is based let’s face it without farmers we would all be naked hungry and sober
we would all be naked hungry and sober
we would all be naked hungry and sober and I say that’s a sad place to be thank
and I say that’s a sad place to be thank
and I say that’s a sad place to be thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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