Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
But what happens when the young men and women don't want to learn how to fish (farm) anymore?
If you ask people what the world needs more of, "farmers" probably isn't the first answer you'll hear. Maybe it should be.
In many countries, the average farmer is pushing 60 — and the kids aren't lining up to take over the hoe. Who can blame them? In a world that flashes quick money, big salaries, and digital dreams, farming looks slow, risky, and, for too many, like a ticket to stay poor.
We've been "giving fish" for decades. Nonprofits pour in money, training programs, and good intentions. Sometimes they help — sometimes they patch holes that keep leaking. But here's the problem: we've been teaching people how to fish in waters that are drying up, with broken nets, while telling them the real money is in the city.
The truth is, for a lot of young people, the soil can't compete with the smartphone. And when you grow up watching older farmers struggle with debt, drought, and exhausting labor, it's easy to wonder: Why learn to fish at all?
I once asked a white South African friend of mine why he kept farming when he could have done anything else. He told me how he'd carry his hoe into town — people knew he was a successful man, so they'd pull him aside, kindly, trying to spare him shame: "Don't embarrass yourself. You don't have to do that work." He'd smile, stand his ground, and say it clearly: "There is no shame in feeding people. Farming is a noble profession — the noblest there is."
He was right. But pride alone won't keep the next generation on the land. Teaching someone to fish isn't enough if the fishing isn't profitable, sustainable, or respected. They need to see a future in it. A future that isn't just survival but success — with dignity, income, and purpose.
This is why we're here.
Don't just teach better fishing techniques. Let's rebuild the entire pond. We don't just build tools to cut costs or boost yields. We're part of a bigger mission to prove that farming can be good business, good stewardship, and good sense. That's why we're testing better ways to grow — like new nitrogen technology that saves money, protects soil, and makes farmers less dependent on expensive chemical inputs.
We're not just teaching people to fish — we're making sure the fishing is worth learning.
When the land is healthy, the work is dignified, and the community sees value, the next generation stays. Or they come back. Or they build something new. That's when the ancient wisdom works: teach them to fish, and they'll feed not just themselves, but the world.
Farm Forward - Let's Grow Together!
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