Are the Blind Leading the Blind?

When I wrote one of my last articles, somebody asked me if I was not preaching in the desert.

I do not think so and besides that, I was in Egypt before and I have not only seen many desert landscapes but also met a vast number of very clever Egyptian farm people that took our advice and knowledge to heart and started doing something, taking serious actions forward.

And, when sitting in a Zoom meeting recently with a leading international brand’s team, I sparked interest from Chile, Peru, Mexico, Spain, Italy, and the Philippines with our postharvest philosophy.

So that is as far as preaching in the desert goes. Remember, the most famous forester in the world started initially in the desert and you know what happened there: all the trees are gone.

But I do have to say one thing: I simply cannot let the farmers on their own because if I would let them alone maybe some industry leaders and presumed postharvest specialists would continue to be on face value the blind leaders of the blind.

And for those who do not know, if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Nature never ever breaks her own laws, not yesterday, not today or tomorrow and remember, preserving quality after harvest does not come by chance.

A while back I met a lady in a local coffee shop. She gives yoga lessons for a living, and she told a story about some farming clients of hers. The wives joined the classes and so did the husbands. When asked how that works, she told me: “the farmers listen to their wives. Period.”

So, I must start addressing my postharvest technology logic towards the farmers’ wives in the future.

Because, if they understand and see the benefits of our philosophy, they will tell their husbands to change their way of thinking about postharvest. Then they hopefully also tell them to talk to us!

Delivering better quality to the end users will bring prosperity to the farm. And the first ones to see the benefits of a better yield in earnings will be the wives, for sure. I am certain they will convince their partners very quickly that they better start implementing our philosophy sooner rather than later.

Another advantage I could gain via the farmers’ wives is that they can get their husbands to help them more in the kitchen… They could start by giving them a course how to put stuff in the fridge. They will then start understanding why one always put “cling” wrap over open product. Otherwise, products dry out, don’t they?

And finally, it will hopefully also give me the chance to ask the ladies to find out where their husbands followed the “dis te duur or it’s too expensive” course at varsity. That course must be at least two to three years and if I am lucky, they can indicate which professor gives these lectures, as I would die to have a nice chat with her or him.

Recently the “te duur” story meant that in our Parliament, the fire system together with the sprinklers didn’t work and, as the security guards were not paid overtime, this building of national importance was left unsecured… It was “te duur” to do the right thing…

Just remember, when you are a solution partner, you are part of a team and together with a team, you can strive to do everything right.

Well, that is restricted to the applied postharvest technology field of course, I would not like to get in trouble with my farmers after talking to their wives.

Do you still think we are not effective? Not possible? Yes, we can! Together with you!

And you will need it, rather sooner than later.

Talk to us if you want to progress.

We are by far the most experienced specialists when it comes to applied, engineered, tried, evaluated and proven postharvest technologies in Africa.