A young Generation of Farmers-The social Network Farmers is what we Need for a food Secure Africa

Last week I read an article in the Capital FM news website http://tinyurl.com/youngfarmer  where, Lucy Kimani, head of the Kenya Coffee Producers' Association argues that "The average age of a Kenyan farmer is about 55 years and I think I'm being conservative. So without somebody to carry the mantle... the sector is under threat,"

To me this is a strong statement and a direct challenge to the Facebook Generation who have always been complaining that as the youth they are not given time to demonstrate their abilities

The Question I always ask myself is, are we up to the challenge? Can we as youth take up the Role of revolutionizing Agriculture? 
A growing number of young people are making a business through farming in Kenya and they are making millions out of it. They're opening up small farms dairy and horticulture farms. Take for example the story of Douglas Kanji, who at 26 has 57 Cows 30 of them producing milk. http://tinyurl.com/younggenerationfarmer. This is the change that we want our fellow youth to embrace-the Appreciation of Agriculture as a business and the only Major driver to Economic independence in Kenya and the Rest of Africa.

In Most parts of our continent I am sure we have so many youth who share similar stories to that of Mr. Kanji,  and face the same hurdles, one of the biggest being securing capital and getting the mentorship that is relevant for the kind of sub- sector they are in. But with the coming of social network the youth are finding creative ways to reach their goals and discuss the challenges they face in Sector.  

Successful solutions to difficult and hard to define problems in the agribusiness sector are unlikely to emerge from a single person or organization to tackle these problems we need to unite as a team because team work can do wonders. That is why I Laud the initiative by Pan African Agribusiness and Agro Industry Consortium PanAAC to start up a social network http://network.panaac.org/  purely dedicated to networking and sharing ideas in the Agribusiness field. This Network brings together experts in the Agribusiness Sector.
It is a network for all those who are passionate, ambitious, adventurous and committed to bringing the talent, Knowledge and resources as we share ideas and constructively come up with solutions we face in the Agribusiness sector and represents a movement in agriculture that hasn't been seen since the turn of the last century..
As a Facebook Generation farmer this is your  opportunity to utilize the knowledge, skills and technical knowhow to help the farmers solve their farming problems from production, transportation, processing, value addition, marketing agribusiness innovation and all related fields feel free to post a topic and contribute to discussions

I am urging all youth to join http://network.panaac.org/ and be part of a growing crop of beginner farmers, young people who are choosing to make a business of farming in Africa.

Google Kwetu Map Maker Competition

Would you like your town,religious institution,school, the agribusiness institutions or even your village to be on Google maps? Well here is your Chance, KIYCE in collaboration with PanAAC  is running a competition in Kenyan universities and colleges dubbed "Kwetu Map Maker Competition" This competition gives a chance to the  students to give back to the community  by mapping areas they know and love using  Google Map Maker. Google Map Maker allows you to add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth. By sharing information about the places you know, like businesses in your town or places on your school campus, you can ensure the map accurately reflects the world around you.
As a competitor this is your chance to be recognized and rewarded for your mapping contributions. The competition winner will be a local hero. Top mapping contributors will appear on Google Map Maker and ultimately on Google Maps besides winning lots of  great . Register for the Competition here goo.gl/uuOOs

Conference Call from Whitehouse

The main Agenda of the Conference call was to discuss the First Lady's upcoming trip to South Africa and Botswana.
 The conference lasted one and half hours and it Started at exactly 11:45 PM EAT with 15 minutes registration. The following was the required personal details for registration,

• Name of individual
• Organization you are representing
• The Country you are from.
• The contacts.
• 
  

After that, the Conference call discussions started with around 100 participants.
It started with an introduction from the Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, and Jocelyn Frye, Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady: They gave a detailed schedule of the places the first Lady is going to visit on her trip to the two countries, The historic and political importance of these venues and the expected outcomes of the trip.
After this, it was Question and answer time.
 PanAAC representative, Isaac Kosgei was among the eight who were selected to ask questions.
 On behalf of PanAAC, Isaac asked the below question

“At PanAAC we are interested in engaging the youth in Agribusiness because we are convinced that the future for African Continent is Agribusiness. The youth must be supported with finance to start up innovative projects in ICT and Agribusiness but they do not own land or any collateral, what is the US government doing in regard to this”
The below points were Noted:

• The Obama Administration is keen on ensuring the development in the African continent and they continue to supported several projects in Africa through   USAID.
• The Obama administration are looking for ways to foster the spirit on entrepreneurship and the first lady trip is a vehicle to showcase and highlight the US commitment towards the support of the Youth in Africa and the world at large, this is a continuation of what President Obama started in 2010 with the Youth Leaders forum in Whitehouse. The first lady has taken this up with a trip to UK, Brazil, India, Mexico and other Countries
• They are planning a meeting early next year to discuss Agribusiness and they will invite a number of innovative leaders on the Ground to this meeting to share ideas on Agribusiness and Youth empowerment.
• Organizations like PanAAC are encouraged to highlight and showcase the extraordinary work they are doing on the Ground particularly on Youth and Agribusiness. They said we  share success stories through the white house Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DOSAfricanAffairs?sk=wall  the white house twitter Hashtag  #Young Africa
• They also challenged the Youth especially in Africa to take part in creation of the best democracies.

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA AND BOTSWANA
Official visit continues the First Lady’s work engaging youth at home and abroad

First Lady Michelle Obama announced that she will travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and Gaborone, Botswana during an official visit to Africa from June 21 – 26 focused on youth leadership, education, health and wellness. The trip is a continuation of Mrs. Obama’s work to engage young people at home and abroad, from mentoring students in the United States and encouraging them to gain international experience, to encouraging young people to excel academically, serve, and lead during her visits to Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom.  Accompanying Mrs. Obama on this trip will be her mother, Mrs. Robinson and her daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.
This visit to two critical countries will underscore the United States important stake in the success of Africa's many nations. It will underscore the historic connections between the American people and the Africans.  South Africa is a vital global partner for the United States, a political leader and economic engine on the continent, and a historic example of democratic transition in Africa and around the world. Botswana’s enduring democracy, bolstered by its commitment to using its vast natural resources to invest in its people and grow its economy, models the potential for good governance, and strong institutions to advance prosperous and stable societies.
In addition to advancing her international youth engagement agenda, the First Lady’s events will amplify the President’s support for democracy, development and economic opportunity across Africa.  During her trip, Mrs. Obama will deliver the keynote address to a U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum in South Africa.  Forum participants include young women from across sub-Saharan Africa who are leading or involved in social and economic initiatives in their own countries.  The Forum will build on the Obama Administration’s ongoing engagement with the next generation of African leaders and the momentum of the August 2010 President’s Forum with Young African Leaders held at the White House.
Mrs. Obama’s engagement with the people of South Africa and Botswana, as well as women and youth leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa will further strengthen the already deep connections between the United States and African nations. The Obama Administration has focused on expanding ties across the region's people, based upon mutual respect, mutual responsibility and shared interests. In 2009 in Accra, Ghana, the President highlighted our nation’s commitment to Africa's future, underscoring that in this globalized world, Africa's democratic development, health and security is connected to our own.
Africa's future will be shaped by its growing and dynamic youth population. Building stronger and more enduring relationships with Africa’s emerging young leaders, tapping the strength and potential of African women, and investing in the health and well-being of its children upholds core American values and advances American interests.
From long standing family and ancestral ties to significant engagement by our houses of worship, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and businesses, the American people have deep ties and enduring relationships with Africa’s many nations with a strong interest in the wellbeing and prosperity of its people.  In addition, each year more than 30,000 African students study in American schools, colleges and universities, while more than 10,000 American students study in schools across Africa.  The United States government also sponsors a range of exchange programs supporting African leadership, economic growth and cultural ties between our two people.