Friday 10 February 2017

A pearl of her generation-The Agric Maniac

Ms Pearl Ranna- A Game Changer is someone who does what people think is impossible by paving a way for development in their respected field and leading people to where they ought to be. You have to be different in a way that people feel your presence even when you are not there. To leave a mark and never be forgotten for the change you brought to life and the people you have been able to help by re-writing the rules, the way God wants you to. A game-changer is wired differently.

                                                                     Pearl Ranna

Pearl Ranna does not fit the typical farmer look, but it seems she does not follow the rules that society has set. As a young person, and a woman she has surely broken the rules as she is the Director of Unitech Farming, and currently working on a Community development initiatives both national and global as their social entrepreneurship objectives.  Only 24 years old, yet she has established her name in the Agriculture sector, as she is known for organizing the first ever Women in Farming Expo last year. Pearl is such a determined young lady, and a treasure in the development of our country through Agriculture.

The Unitech Farming Director confesses that she actually hated farming at first, but her mother introduced her to farming and urged her to do more research and she was quite enthralled with what she found out, and that is how it all started. 
Currently studying her Masters of Science in Agriculture and Rural Development , she believes that with the knowledge she is acquiring, she will bring back a different perspective on how the Agricultural industry can be made more sustainable, and Botswana more food secure in order to address the issue of poverty and hunger.
 “There is so much that needs to be done with adopting farming systems and techniques that are safe for our environment while adapting to Climate Change and being efficient with the resources that we use on a day to day basis. But it all begins with involving all the necessary stakeholders beginning with farmers and building our way up to sustainable agricultural development and increasing food production.”, she translates.
 Pearl Ranna is anything but average, but she says that was not always the case as she used to believe she was not smart since she was a slow learner. Even thou she put more effort in her studies, her grades were not pleasing.
 “All my friends and relatives did better than me and it made me feel like I did not belong in the field of academics hence why I resulted into Sports. But luckily I did well in High school enough to proceed to tertiary, and that is where I fell in love with Business Entrepreneurship since I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. The love I had rebuilt my confidence and I felt a sense of belonging as I now knew I wanted to be a business woman when I completed my studies. “, she gloats.

With the potential to become anything, Pearl Ranna says if she was to be president she would invest more in the Agriculture sector especially Research and Development, Improve and enlarge the Manufacturing Industry and Introduce more sustainable and lucrative international export markets for Local products and services. This resilient young lady considers that Agricultural Investment is really lacking in the Agricultural Industry, and further stresses that Investing in Agriculture can result in the quality of agricultural resource improvement because some activities become less labour-intensive thus improving the quality and quantity of production.  
“Another benefit is supplying raw materials for manufacturing and processing can improve other sectors and improve the economy. It’s important to note that without agricultural investment, people will continue to suffer from hunger in rural areas, and this is also necessary to improve the livelihoods of Batswana. Agriculture is a sector that does not only involve farming but there is a whole long value chain that benefits from the primary sector activities and without them, our markets will continue to fail and external costs and factors will also rise and have a negative impact on things such as food prices, farm lands being neglected, farmers getting into more debt and an increase in our current food import bill”, she states.

Ranna further states that learning something new every day feeds her soul with inspiration to do something, and  in the next five years, she is determined to have obtained a PhD Degree, and be a female Leader for both Youth and Women, in the Farming Sector.  She advises that “to be great does not come as easy as having an idea, but you need to get up and do it or else someone else will do it before you.”

Fun facts about Pearl (What she says)
Name three things that people do not know about Pearl...
*Even though people know I am a black belt, I hate fighting.
*I have a fear of watching animals being slaughtered
*I don’t eat Pork, Goat and Sheep

Pearl’s bucket list...
*To get a placement in the World Food Program or United Nations Environmental Program in a country experiencing extreme poverty and hunger
*To enrol for a PhD study
*To buy a Holiday house in Greece

Three people who inspire Pearl
*The late Evelyn Nguleka – she was the Zambian National Farmers Union President and the World Food Organization President. I love the fact that she is a Woman who had great leadership skills in the Farming industry and did an outstanding job both on a National and International level, and at the same time being a farmer and Business Woman.

*My Mother – She has grown to be my best friend, my mentor and I have learnt a lot from her especially being confident and believing in myself even when no one else did, she has stood by me in every situation of life, and when it was time for me to become a strong independent woman, she stood by me and let me do everything she has taught me all my life.

*My Father – When I was young I saw my dad leave his job and start his own business, of ‘course it was not easy but his passion and determination to do great and achieve his goals taught me a lot in life about not giving up in your dreams and having faith even when everyone doesn’t support your decision or believe in you. I continue to look up to him because he constantly reminds me of how strong, precious and rare I am just like my name ‘’Pearl’’ and this alone gives me enough courage to turn all my dreams into reality.

Best childhood memory
*Singing and dancing for my late Grandmother



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