YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE: THE POWER IS IN YOU

Dr. Folaranmi YusufWALTER SISULU UNIVERSITY

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT MTHATHA CAMPUS

Paper presented at the EC AgriFi CExpoUniversity of Fort Hare

07-09 July, 2015

AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA

•The contributions of the sector to the economy however have been on the decline since 1970 from share of the gross domestic production (GDP) of 7.1% to 2.6% in 2013 (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [DAFF], 2014).

FACTORS FOR LOW AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT IN SA

•Decline in the number of commercial farms in South Africa (Janovsky, 2011). •For example, between 1980 and 2011, there was a decline from 128,000 commercial farms to 40, 000. •Poor attitude of youth to farming as a profession (Aphunu and Atoma, 2010); •Poor vocational competence and near-zero practical skills in agriculture training (Oloruntoba, 2008);

YOUTH AND AGRICULTURE•As the farmer population is aging there is need to facilitate sustainability in agriculture production.

7Youth and Agriculture

YOUTH AND AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE IS A SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE YOUTH

Celebrations of our skills, labor, dedication and perseverance

• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” Eleanor Roosevelt

BELIEVE AND DREAM

•When we believe in our abilities, we can accomplish great things

HABIT AND PASSION• Your habit will determine your future

• As a farmer in the making, you must understand the fact that:

“Successful people don’t drift to the top. It takes focused action, personal discipline and lots of energy everyday to make things happen”

THE SUCCESSFUL HABITS 1. Identify your bad or unproductive habits. E.g., What are those things you indulge in?i. Sleeping too much?ii.Playing too much?iii.Eating too much?iv.Drinking liquor, smoking (cigarette, dagga

etc)2. Define your new successful habit. Just the opposite of the first one3. Create a pragmatic action plan to realize your dream

LOVE OF READING• How many books have you read in your chosen career?

FARMING IS BEAUTIFUL

SETTING GOALS OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL COMMERCIAL FARMER

•A goal is the ongoing pursuit of a worthy objective until accomplished.

THE TOP 10 GOALS CHECKLIST1. Most important goals must be YOURS;2. Your goal must be meaningful, avoid the “if only syndrome”;3. Goals must be specific and measurable;4. Flexible;5. Challenging and exciting;

THE TOP 10 GOALS CHECKLIST cntd

6.Must be in alignment with your values;

7.Balanced and integrated;8.Realistic;9.Must include contributions: Give back to the society;

10.Must be supported.

FARMING IS “SEXY”

I LOVE FARMING

LAUGHING TO THE BANK

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING