2014 WORLD FOOD PRIZE BORLAUG DIALOGUE

Special points of interest during discussions with Mr Masiyiwa:

Mr. Masiyiwa stressed the inportance of bringing an argument to the bargaining table "a hand-shake is better than a hand out"
The AGRA chairman was optimistic about the future of agriculture post-Ebola.
Africa needs to be a partner in development with other nations and move from being the recipient of development aid.

SOBBA was honoured to meet with one of Africa's business icons Strive Masiyiwa (far right in the picture) at the event. He is the current Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) board chairman. He was the keynote speaker on Day 2. In his speech, he challenged Africa to take up the leadership to feed the the 3.5 billion increase in population in 2050. He indicated that AGRA will continue to be a major player in the African Agricultural sector.

SOBBA briefly discussed with him the gaps that we are looking to fill in the Sierra Leone agriculture arena and the need for new direct impact-driven initiatives and investment in agriculture to help booster this struggling sector. He was very optimistic about the future of agriculture in Sierra Leone after the Ebola crisis is eradicated. He stressed that Africa needs to be a partner in development with other nations and move from being the recipient of development aid. He further expounded on the ideology that "a hand-shake is better than a hand out", stressing that a hand shake in most instances symbolizes a business conducted with mutual respect, commitment and trust. A hand out entrusts unilateral trust commitment, and respect to one party; rendering the other party a weak recipient.

(Strive Masiyiwa is the CEO and founder of Econet Wireless and was named by Forbes in 2011 as one of the top 20 most influential persons in the African business arena. (In 2012, President Obama invited him to address the G-8 leaders at Camp David on how to increase food production, and end hunger in parts of Africa.) He currently serves on several international boards and think-tanks and forums. For more information on AGRA and its works in Africa and Sierra Leone please visit; http://agra-alliance.org/. For more information on Mr. Masiyiwa, and his background visit: http://www.econetwireless.com/strive_masiyiwa.php.)

SOBBA meets AGRA Board Chairman,

Strive Masiyiwa

The Dialogue

The 2014 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue was convened in Des Moines, Iowa, USA from October 14 to 16. The Managing Director and the Business Development and Finance Officer (see the picture gallery on the left) of SOBBA Initiatives were invited to participate in the capacity as farmers.

This event was a gathering of eminent experts in agriculture and agribusiness to discuss food security in a world of natural resource scarcity with a projected population of 9.5 billion by 2050. The issues the main speakers and panelists discussed were fundamental to feeding the projected population of 9.5 billon people with natural resources becoming scarce and rapidly depleting. Most of the dialogue and workshop had common themes an issues which was in sync with SOBBA's mission and vision including but not limited to the following issues highlighted on the right below:

BIRTUKAN DAGNACHEW

A Female Smallholder Farming Hero.

coffee, gesho, avocado, orange, lemon, onion, and tomato both for family consumption and as a source of income.

Birtikuan is well known in her area for her watershed development and environmental protection activities. The trees planted around her residence are a statement of her hard work to conserve the environment. In addition to prevention of soil erosion, the wood is used for construction and is a source of additional income. With the money she earned, she built a modern house and make sure her children are getting proper education. She says the major reason of her success is her application of new agricultural technologies and the support she receives from development agents. Birtikuan Dagnachew efforts have earned her a gold medal from the Ethopian regional government.

SOBBA will be spreading her inspiring story and agricultural experience to help inspire women farmers in Sierra Leone to become more productive and known that a little diligence and improved and effective farming techniques can be successful.

SOBBA was also privileged to meet with Birtukan Dagnache who was one of the farmers spotlighted during this event. She is a Smallholder Farmer and Female Food Hero, whose husband died 10 years ago during the Ethio-Eritrean war.On 2.1 hectares of land she cultivates sorghum, teff and other cereals. In addition to her main agricultural practices, she cultivates vegetables, fruits

At the Laurete Award Ceremony
The MD & Business Manager
DSC02107
Mr. Masiyiwa engaging with SOBBA Strive Masiyiwa (AGRA chairman & Econet Founder) engaged in discussions with SOBBA about the futire of Agriculture in Sierra Leone post Ebola
SOBBA's MD & Mr. Masiyiwa SOBBA's MD engaging Strive Masiyiwa (AGRA chairman & Econet Founder) on the SOBBA'S plans for improving Food Security in Sierra Leone and the world post Ebola
The Managing Director SOBBA's MD posing for a photo during a break in one of the sessions

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE DIALOGUE

Africa’s role and potential in feeding the next generation
Making family farming profitable and sustainable.
Drought and disease tolerance for food security.
The nutrition gap
Soil health and water preservation and use
Applying innovation and technology to end hunger
Small holder’s financing: innovations in agro-financing and insurances.
Food Insecurity and its threat to global peace and insecurity

Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram, a wheat breeder who has spent his life developing more than 480 varieties of the staple crop, was awarded The World Food Prize among an international audience at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.	President Koroma's address Sierra Leone's President addressed the conference and stressed the need for more help and partnership with Sierra Leone especially to counter the devastating effects of the Ebola Outbreak.	Dinner with agriculture experts SOBBA representative had dinner with different agricultural industry experts over a 3-day period during which discussions about successes, failures and ideas on agricultural improvement were held.
HGB 40 chances fellows.jpg Representatives from The World Food Prize, the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation; the 40 Chances Fellows (who each won $150,000 grants); and the Ministers of Agriculture from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda.

SOBBA

The Strategy Organization for Building Business Initiatives in Agriculture- Sierra Leone

A Dedicated Seed and agricultural services company

2014 WORLD FOOD PRIZE BORLAUG DIALOGUE

SOBBA meets AGRA Board Chairman,

Strive Masiyiwa

The Dialogue

BIRTUKAN DAGNACHEW

A Female Smallholder Farming Hero.

At the Laurete Award Ceremony

The MD & Business Manager

DSC02107

Mr. Masiyiwa engaging with SOBBA

Strive Masiyiwa (AGRA chairman & Econet Founder) engaged in discussions with SOBBA about the futire of Agriculture in Sierra Leone post Ebola

SOBBA's MD & Mr. Masiyiwa

SOBBA's MD engaging Strive Masiyiwa (AGRA chairman & Econet Founder) on the SOBBA'S plans for improving Food Security in Sierra Leone and the world post Ebola

The Managing Director

SOBBA's MD posing for a photo during a break in one of the sessions

Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram

Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram, a wheat breeder who has spent his life developing more than 480 varieties of the staple crop, was awarded The World Food Prize among an international audience at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

President Koroma's address

Sierra Leone's President addressed the conference and stressed the need for more help and partnership with Sierra Leone especially to counter the devastating effects of the Ebola Outbreak.

Dinner with agriculture experts

SOBBA representative had dinner with different agricultural industry experts over a 3-day period during which discussions about successes, failures and ideas on agricultural improvement were held.

HGB 40 chances fellows.jpg

Representatives from The World Food Prize, the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation; the 40 Chances Fellows (who each won $150,000 grants); and the Ministers of Agriculture from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda.