Economically Empowering Subsistence Farmers
Channel: World Bank Group Jobs
Date: 2012-10-23

Dennis Szeszko, an agribusiness entrepreneur in Mexico, describes how subsistence farmers can learn better business practices to become more successful.

Awareness of the business environment is the first step, says Szeszko. For instance, less than five percent of the flowers imported by the United States are grown in Mexico, despite the country's proximity and favorable growing climate. This highlighted a business opportunity for his agribusiness and is indicative of problems facing most low-income farmers.

His experience shows that farmers learn quickly when introduced to new techniques, and thinks that governments can help create long-term job stability and increase productivity by promoting more profitable crops and growing techniques.