WHY THINGS ARE BETTER THAN EVER? Based on human evolution and history, I know the agro sector in developing economies has left little place for trust, and the fear of risking and losing their little is the primary motivation source. I have no illusions or expectations for a fast change in the agro sector of developing economies, mainly because the national level is not ready yet. My expectations are low from experts, stakeholders, decision-makers, investors, and businesspeople to swiftly adopt a novel concept different from the one they know and use. Studies show that experts are the late adopters of new concepts utterly different from what they are experts in. However, my expectations are high from the non-biased public and the non-experts. They are free of prejudice or conflict of interests; when something makes sense, they realize it. Why things are better than ever? Things are always in their worst state when you are heading in the wrong direction, confident that the solution is over the corner. Well, that is about to change. We are now at a turning point, understanding we went the wrong way realizing we have been wasting $ billions for decades, achieving nothing other than increased mistrust and frustrated poorer farmers. However, we are blessed for finding "the path to prosperity.” Our situation was never better, for we finally acknowledged we were wrong, and it seems we have a safe path to prosperity. SUCCESS!? If you are looking for hundreds of millions of smallholders that will overnight shift from poverty to become part of the middle class, this is not the “success” I refer to, though this would come too, in time. In the case of the #1 UN SDG, poverty, “success” is more subtle. “Success” resembles more the change of mind, the opening of eyes to a possibly different and better future, like I had when using pheromones and realizing sprays are not a necessity; we can do without them, and we can do better. “Success” is when one is more open to hearing, learning, and implementing innovative concepts that are not more of the same, “I will study and meditate on… My bones tell me this is true.” “Success” is when someone highly experienced says, “I wish and earnestly hope that the technocrats at the ministry headquarters would subscribe and read your articles because the ideas that you disseminate can potentially help in reducing and possibly eradicating poverty in Kenya. Poverty is the greatest barrier to smallholders productivity and wealth creation in Kenya as it is in developing countries.” “Success” is when you establish a conference, like the IBMA, that defies the “accepted” approach that reduces the challenge of poverty among smallholders to technologies, funds, and capacity building (whatever that means), and now is celebrating its second event. “Success” is those little things, vibrations that signal that things are not as always; something changes underneath the surface. “Success” begins with one person who changes his attitude, and we now have thousands. The boat began moving; peoples' minds are open, and the social and business environment was more positive and ready for novel concepts than ever. When we detect those vibrations, we can be sure the earthquake will follow, though we can't know the exact time. I am optimistic about the future of smallholders in developing economies because, for the first time – • We know that smallholders’ poverty is unrelated to – technologies and funds. • We understand the foundation for a healthy agro sector is its three pillars: the Package - ecosystems, business models, and technologies/services. • We have documented success stories when applying the three pillars correctly to the poor Israeli farmers (1900 – 2000) and recently with the mango small-hold growers of Senegal. • When the Package is appropriately designed and applied, improvement (change) is immediate, enormous, and unmistakable. • We have the trust of big organizations/governments that support the International Conference on Business Models In Agriculture (IBMA) and the belief of action people active in Africa. • There is a tremendous public interest, as reflected on social networks, particularly LinkedIn (40K followers). • We have experts who understand that the barrier to advancing smallholders is not in more tech or funds but the knowledge that decision-makers should acquire - “I wish and earnestly hope that the technocrats at the ministry headquarters would subscribe and read your articles…“ • As reflected by big food chains/supermarkets, consumers are looking forward to this change. We were blind, and now we see. We were deaf; now we hear. We were silent; now we talk. We were disabled, and we began walking. At first, it looks as if there is no change, then you hear something, and then another something, and before you know it, everything is changed. This was the case in the Amazon commerce revolution, the social networks revolution, the smartphone (iPhone) revolution, and the A.I. revolution led by Chat GPT. This will be the case with the small-hold farmers’ prosperity revolution led by Dream Valley. Do you see the better future as clear as I do? Be patient, act, and do the right things; you shall receive your return in time. Take your time. I once saw how smells, e.g., pheromones, which I couldn’t see, replace toxic sprays in protecting our produce. It instilled in me the faith in the power of vision and the ability to reach what your vision desires. What does your vision desire? What do you do to achieve it? Want to change the rural community's development trajectory in your country or elsewhere? Are you unsatisfied with a running rural project or want to plan a new one? Message me +972-54-2523425 Whether you agree or not, share your thoughts with me. TAKEAWAY MESSAGES » LOOK TO CHANGE what others don’t even consider as “changeable.” » WE ARE encouraged to avoid risk, e.g., change and innovation. » CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION is the only way to create prosperity among smallholders. » RESISTANCE TO INNOVATION predicts that change to smallholders will come slowly. » THE GOOD NEWS: Change through innovation is here to stay, and change has begun. |