“Strengthening the mentoring network is vital if we’re going to help the Kenya’s budding agro-entrepreneurs. These youth need mentorship,” says Jan Willem van Es, a mentor in YPARD’s pilot ‘youth in agriculture’ mentoring program.
Jan Willem joins the program with a lot of experience and expertise to share. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from the University of Applied Sciences, Van Hall Institute, Netherlands, a certificate in marketing on the job training in farm management. He has nearly 30 years of professional experience to contribute to the program.
“Strengthening the mentoring network is vital if we’re going to help the Kenya’s budding agro-entrepreneurs. These youth need mentorship,” says Jan Willem van Es, a mentor in YPARD’s pilot ‘youth in agriculture’ mentoring program.
Jan Willem joins the program with a lot of experience and expertise to share. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from the University of Applied Sciences, Van Hall Institute, Netherlands, a certificate in marketing on the job training in farm management. He has nearly 30 years of professional experience to contribute to the program.
Jan Willem is currently the Director of the Western Agribusiness Investment Symposium, which brings together experts and investors to consider the opportunities for investment and partnerships in agribusiness activities.
He says his involvement in this company has a connection with his background and upbringing. His parents were involved in the trade of industrial fruits, buying in Eastern Europe and supplying them to the Western European juice and marmalade processors. Jan says he has been very interested in farmers’ life from his earliest youth, “helping” farmers and travelling with his parents to their suppliers and their farms.
Position | Senior Manager, Western Agribusiness Investment Symposium |
Country | Netherlands |
Education | Bachelor Degree in Food Science (University of Applied Sciences, Van Hall Institute, Netherlands) Certificate in Marketing On the job training in farm management |
Mentee | Obadiah Biwot, dairy farmer and Business Development Advisor for Heifer International |
Jan Willem came to Kenya in 2011 to support the marketing efforts of cutting edge American Farm Inputs (Synergistic Bio Stimulant Technology). It was during this time that he fell in love with the country and its people, earning himself the traditional name “Okoth”.
He has worked across agricultural subsistence & energy value chains, in multiple roles but always with a keen eye on green operations. He is particularly passionate about renewable energy, carbon footprint reduction and sustainability in Kenya. He has been able to build an extensive knowledge in improving farm yields by implementing fusion farming, with extensive ideas how to improve post-harvest treatment, grading and pre-processing.
As a mentor, Jan Willem will share his expertise and network in agriculture value chain and farm development with young Kenyan entrepreneurs. He is upbeat about the entire mentoring programme.
He is happy that the whole experience of mentoring will widen his understanding of development in Kenya and how things work. He will be able to practice his interpersonal skills and get personal satisfaction through supporting the development of young men and women.
Through mentoring, he is going to help in building young peoples’ confidence, broaden their vision in life and expand their capabilities.
To all the youth out there, these are Jan Willem’s words; ‘Do not expect anybody to create for you a bright future, this can only be the result of your own hard work. Farming can be very profitable, if you make it your profession.’