How travel tourism is breeding a new crop of agro-entrepreneurs

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As the government moves to increase earnings from the tourism sector by allocating sh430 billion to it in the 2025/26 financial year, stakeholders continue to explore innovative ways of generating more income while creating employment opportunities.

One such innovation is travel and agri-tourism, an initiative in which farmers travel across countries to learn best farming practices from other farms, with the aim of replicating these techniques back home.

According to Farid Karama, the initiator of the programme dubbed the Tugende Kenya Agritourism Experience Tour 2025, the initiative was designed to expose, empower and elevate those engaged in the agri-tourism sector.

“We believe that a single farmer empowered today can impact generations tomorrow. The experience is more than just a study tour. It is a transformational journey through innovation, sustainability, and agricultural excellence,” Karama explained on Saturday upon his group’s return from the agri-tourism experience in Kenya.

He said the five-day road trip, which began on July 2, brought together a dynamic group of Ugandan agripreneurs, youth leaders, farmers and policymakers.

“Because through this movement, people learn, network, and explore practical solutions in real farming environments,” he explained.

The journey was organised by Travel with Farid, in partnership with Mlima Safaris & Agritours and Bris Agro Safaris.

Places visited

Karama noted that the tour began with a visit to the Nakuru Agricultural Show 2025, where agri-tourists were fascinated by the South African Boer goats and high-yield dairy cattle. Many were drawn to the various mechanisation techniques deemed critical for scaling up their social enterprises.

Others showed interest in traditional methods of preserving organic seeds and producing organic pesticides, while some were keen on high-yield maize varieties, among other innovations.

Farms visited included:

Chemusian Farm: One of the most successful privately run farms in Nakuru, this farm is known for its integrated and sustainable dairy production. It has a total herd of 1,186 cattle, with 471 actively milking, producing an impressive 9,500 litres of milk daily. The milking process is automated. In addition to cattle, the farm also rears goats for both meat and milk production.

Griincom – A Waste to Wealth Company: This enterprise is transforming environmental waste into wealth. It specialises in Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology to manage organic waste and produce high-protein animal feed. It also manufactures organic fertiliser, composters, foliar fertiliser sprays and eco-friendly pesticides—all made from biodegradable inputs.

The annual initiative will continue later this year with a team of agri-tourists scheduled to visit selected farms across Uganda, under the next phase termed Twende Uganda.