The high potentioal farmers
"This afternoon we will celebrate our heroes. The high potential farmers, people who have come with plans that generate local enthusiasm and energy. These individual initiatives are what is required to create market chains and make optimum use of the marketing opportunities in a country. Which, in turn leads to a stronger farming sector, less poverty, less hunger, more entrepreneurship, more social infrastructure, better education and other developments. Our stakes are high. It is therefore not important whether you will get the award this afternoon. Smart entrepreneurs know they have already won."
Speech by Gerda Verburg, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, at the Fokker Terminal, June 2nd 2010, The Hague.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On coming in today I could feel the place was buzzing. The enthusiasm was almost palpable. 60 entrepreneurs from developing countries and over a 100 investors are gathered here for the presentations. I was pleased to accept the invitation to give a short explanation and present the award.
As a small but by no means insignificant farming country we are keen to meet farmers from abroad and hear about their farming concepts. Since we are all living in a global village distance no longer seems so important. Any food issues have become global. In my view, the challenge to feed 9 billion people in 2050 and use our planet wisely presents us with a major opportunity. We can meet this challenge provided we have the right attitude. Provided we are all prepared to work on sustainable solutions. Farmers and entrepreneurs, wherever they are, can contribute to a more sustainable production and consumption pattern. Citizens can do their bit as well. By wasting less food, for instance. (I have put the reduction of food waste on the agenda in my own country: sadly, Dutch consumers still throw away food amounting to one in five bags of food bought). Our common approach could provide the initial impetus for other challenges as well, like the conservation of biodiversity, and providing more social and political stability.
Far away is nearby. Here too. Our food no longer comes from the small plot behind our house. It comes from all sorts of places. With every pea we eat we put different worlds in our mouths. A world of technology. A world of farmers, cooperatives, processing and transport companies, supermarkets and local street markets. A world of seasons. A world of effort and nurture.
It is interesting to see how all this is organised. And I am keen to see how you all go about doing this. Every farmer knows that it not only matters what you do, but also how you do it. How do you respond to circumstances like the climate, the seasons, the soil, the animals you work with. It all has its impact, locally, regionally and globally. And impact on yourself, your family, your relatives, your children and grandchildren, mankind and the planet, even. Which is why it matters to us all.
We can learn a great deal from each other. By working together, for instance. By sharing our knowledge and innovative technical solutions and, this is very important: by making use of home-grown solutions.
It is for this reason that each year the Ministers of Agriculture and Development Cooperation invest an extra euro 50 million from their budgets in agricultural projects in developing countries. We see that aid targeted at local initiatives is the way out of poverty and hunger. It helps us bring the realisation of our Millennium goals closer. This view was confirmed in a bulky report from the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy entitled 'Less prevention, more ambition'. The Council argues that farming in Africa should be made more professional. Using the possibilities present in the countries themselves. So we should get rid of our traditional approach. If you do what you did, you get what you got.
We can donate tractors, even 10 tractors, and generate much public attention, with pictures and so on. It may make us feel good, but what if there are no roads for the tractor? What if it breaks down and it must be repaired? Where is the know-how that should have accompanied the delivery? What if there is no storage for the products you grow, or no outlet for them?
We want our aid to be more meaningful and help to increase self-sufficiency by not giving people fish, but fishing rods. We no longer want to use the single, universal concept but a five-track approach, a 'high five'. We will carefully study the context in which we can build something up together. Like improving productivity, public services and institutes, sustainable chain development and improving market access, food security and social security. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a break from our traditional approach: hands up, not hands out.
There is more good news for the entrepreneur. Agriculture has become a political theme. Alongside the crises we have to deal with: the financial and economic one, climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the ever present food shortages and lack of good water, agriculture is back on the international, political agenda. And instead of being a problem, it has now become part of the solution. And that is as it should be. It is a powerful tool to promote development, strengthen and protect nature, address climate change and make the most of economic potential.
I would like to help you seize the opportunities. The Netherlands has a lot to offer but that it is not what this afternoon is all about. This afternoon we will celebrate our heroes. The high potential farmers, people who have come with plans that generate local enthusiasm and energy. These individual initiatives are what is required to create market chains and make optimum use of the marketing opportunities in a country. Which, in turn leads to a stronger farming sector, less poverty, less hunger, more entrepreneurship, more social infrastructure, better education and other developments. Our stakes are high. It is therefore not important whether you will get the award this afternoon. Smart entrepreneurs know they have already won. I wish you all every success with your plans, your deals and arrangements.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Before I point at the winners of the Farmers in Business Challenge, the jury has asked me to share its remarks with you. The jury has been looking at 5 interesting business plans. It says it has been a pleasure to have the interviews with the owners of the plans. The jury also says it is impressed by the remarkable enthusiasm of the presented plans.
Selection has been made with consideration for the different stages of the development of the plans.
- one prize for the start up,
- one prize for a more profitable enterprise,
- and one prize for an expanding business.
For this reason the total amount of the prize is divided into 3 equal parts of euro 15.000. I now present the prizes.
The first prize, the prize for a more profitable enterprise, will be given to a well described enterprise with enormous growth potential. The jury appreciates this plan highly due to its completeness and marketing strategies. It also advises that the money is going to the 49% minority of the shareholders, being the farmer members. I am talking about a new bottled aromatic plant drink by Daniel Casanas. Therefore the winner of this prize is: Yaku from Ecuador. Mr Casanas, congratulations.
The second prize, for an expanding business, will be given to an enterprise with a wide product range. It will also be given due to the social aspect. Both were highly appreciated by the jury. But the jury also recommends strongly to improve the commercial management structure of this business. This prize is about 3 new lines of high quality traditional food by Maria Fernanda Zumino. Therefore the winning business is: Delicias Criollas from Urugay. Ms Zumino, congratulations.
The third prize, for the best start up, will be presented by the managing director of Agriterra, Mr. Kees Blokland. Thank you.