At the national level, we talk casually about billions and trillions of dollars.
And not too long ago, it was difficult to obtain small business loans for less than $250,000.00.
Which just goes to show, what a difference a few dollars can make in the lives of small business owners who want to better their lives.
Recently, fifty farmers in the western North Carolina mountains received funding to help them diversify their operations. A total of $225,000 was provided by the NC Tobacco Trust Commission and disbursed by Western North Carolina Agricultural Options in $3,000, $6,000, and $9,000 grants.
Since 2003, the Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions, a N.C. Cooperative Extension program that provides resources to farmers diversifying or expanding their operations, particularly those transitioning from tobacco production.
Many of the farm recipients were seeking grants to add or expand related streams of income or stabliize year round employment. Grant recipients plan to transition farm land into U-Pick areas, expand existing herb and bee operations, or saw their own lumber to create outbuildings for agritourism activities.
You can read more about the creative business plans of these farms here.
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That is wonderful.
Am a farmer in Africa, western Kenya near a small town of Kitale-tourists receive accommodation services here while touring attraction sites in north west Kenya.
I have 17 acre of family farm and wish to convert it into an agro-tourism site. I have planted fruits, vegetables using organic agriculture and the farm is currently used by local community for training small scale farmers on agricultural farming techniques in collaboration with ministry of agriculture, forestry and Kenya seed- a leading seed supplier in Kenya.
To start agri-tourism business attracts limited funding in our country, a case opposite to what is done in America.
Do we have such grants extended to Africa so that we can reduce poverty, address food security and create employment to the youth who have no jobs?
Am 60 years, have experience in farming and I have a dream of setting the above project, benefit my community and farmers across the region.
Kindly link my community to the like minded friends and donor funding agencies so that we can share the joy of transforming the community into a better one.