| Samoe has decided to leave crop cultivation for | | | | that went on pouring hard so long as the |
| good! Once bitten, twice shy. He has been bitten | | | | tomatoes were still alive, and stopping only when |
| many times. Samoe is just among many young | | | | the plants were completely rotten. After having |
| people abandoning small scale cultivation to try | | | | used all the scarce funds trying to spray the |
| their hands in other things. Many factors are | | | | tomatoes, Samoe's shoes had become worn out |
| driving people away from their farms. Small scale | | | | completely. As if that was not enough, he had |
| farming is no longer a viable occupation and | | | | remained with a completely tattered trouser and |
| farmers in the third world do not have the | | | | one fairer one. When Samoe felt into the same |
| resources to venture into high-tech and | | | | misfortune this year, he decided packing to leave |
| mechanized small or large scale farming. Facing | | | | farming to become a scribe, the only visible |
| environmental and economic challenges, small scale | | | | occupation after a contract he had been given in |
| farmers now need support than ever before, if | | | | a college came to an abrupt end, yet it was |
| their farming is to become an attractive | | | | supposed to mature into a department. |
| occupation and support the exploding population. | | | | Even if jobs are not forthcoming, small scale crop |
| As many countries in the third world, especially | | | | cultivation is not going to be a viable alternative. |
| Africa emerged from colonialism, many young | | | | Young people in the third world are trying creative |
| people went to school to be able to get a white | | | | arts and the information technology sector. They |
| collar job and join the elite club that was emerging | | | | are singing, acting, reparing computers and running |
| immediately after independence. And this was | | | | computer cyber cafes. And still some are joining |
| true for some time until the job market became | | | | the relatively new, mysterious and fragile |
| saturated and industrialization stalled because of | | | | multilevel marketing which in most cases deals in |
| corruption, mismanagement, and international | | | | drug products and promises fourth night riches. At |
| competition. One would think that since | | | | least some young people are succeeding in |
| industrialization had stalled, agriculture was going to | | | | entrepreneurship. And a question is inevitable. Who |
| be the only alternative, but NO! | | | | will continue courting peasant farming yet it is |
| Agriculture in most of the third world countries is | | | | apparently ugly? Perhaps it may blossom to |
| an economic sector that lack incentives. While | | | | become Mrs. Earth Beauty. I doubt! |
| countries in Europe and North America benefit | | | | Apart from unfriendly climatic changes, crop |
| from subsides and support in case of livestock | | | | farming is competing for attention with other |
| deaths or crop failure due to natural factors | | | | sectors of the economy and it is loosing. While |
| beyond control of the farmer, no visible support is | | | | few organizations may consider funding |
| forthcoming in third world countries. This leaves | | | | agriculture, land title deeds requirement may |
| agriculture as a fragile occupation, especially with | | | | become a hindrance since young people who may |
| global warming phenomena. Heavy rains have | | | | want to try farming do not have. Most parents |
| come pounding for as long as 6 months, at a time | | | | do not entertain the idea of loans. And due to |
| which is supposed to be characterized by short | | | | many prohibiting factors, it becomes hard to |
| and light rains , and sometimes rains are not | | | | confidently write an agricultural business plan to be |
| forthcoming when it is expected. As for Samoei, | | | | given to a funding institution that may have |
| he had planted onions in 1998 but heavy rains | | | | reluctantly listened. Even if agricultural extension |
| made weeding to be a nightmare. He had planted | | | | officers turn to become inspirational and |
| beans towards the end of the rains but were | | | | motivational speakers, trying to tell people that |
| scotched by the sun towards flowering. He had | | | | farming is profitable, experience says otherwise. |
| also tried planting tomatoes for several years | | | | Perhaps small scale farming may be courting an |
| later but had been completely destroyed by rains | | | | indefinite sunset. |