Reaping big from farming butterflies

"Whenever I meet people and tell them that I am a butterfly farmer, they look at me with a sense of disbelief. They ask me: what does a butterfly farmer do, and what does it involve? Do you want to tell us that you grow butterflies?" These are the words from the host's mouth Clivon Mwachola a butterfly farmer in relation to people's bewilderment over his agricultural venture.
This 26 year old young man is a true example that as young farmers we can succeed by thinking out of the ordinary maize/beans farming. The full article can be accessed below. 
The Standard | Reaping big from farming butterflies

Tweet to @Hwereh

Photos from The Mombasa Agricultural Show

AGRO-TOURISM; Opening more opportunities in agriculture

THE 2011 MOMBASA AGRICULTURAL SHOW

A poster advertising the event

The Mombasa Agricultural show was established in 1967 and is located in the Country’s leading holiday resort area of Nyali at the north Coast. The Show was elevated to an International status to attract investors in the region.

SPONSORS OF THE 2011 MOMBASA INTERNATIONAL SHOW

1.       Kenya Ports Authority

2.       Mombasa Maize Millers Ltd

3.       Kenya Maritime Authority

4.       Kenya Power

5.       Co-operative Manager

Centered on the theme of “Driving Agri-business in attaining food sufficiency and vision 2030”, the event drew exhibitors from wide field coverage:

EXHIBITORS:

The show had exhibitors from the following industries;

• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Tourism related enterprises
• Fishing industries
• Education Sector
• Banking Sector
• Shopping
• Export
• Transport and Communication

Such events form a perfect platform for networking and creating market linkages in the agricultural sector and others.As we endeavor to woo the youths into Agriculture, we need to appreciate the factors that are keeping them at bay in order to come up with the correct strategies. Farming is seen as a hard work with little reward- farmers are perceived to be the most hardworking lot but at the same time the most truck with poverty. There is threfore need to look at ways of easening ways of making money and making it more rewarding. Turning to agro-tourism is something that can give agriculture a whole new perspective as seen in this year’s Mombasa Agricultural Show. International and local tourists flocked to the event and though its not clear how much they earned, youths made money from various items they displayed.
Below are some pictures from the event;