BUTTERFLY
FARMING
Butterflies are iconic invertebrates with fascinating life cycles. With around 19,000 species
worldwide and about 1583 species occurring in Tanzania. They are very important to their natural
habitats, because they are important pollinators, second only to bees and wasps, when feeding
on plant nectar. Besides being a beautiful component of biodiversity they are an indicator of
environmental health and change. During their life, butterflies need three basic things – host plants
for the larvae, nectar plants for adults, and a healthy environment without chemicals. You have heard of wheat farmers, rice farmers, and even avocado farmers. Well, what about butterfly farmers? Yes, such a thing does exist, and this is a story about butterfly farmers in Tanzania and finding out what they are doing and why. In the last 20 years, several butterfly centers have been set up in East Africa. These centers aim to show off these fantastic insects, help local communities, and support their survival. Either for export or tourism, these centers earn revenue, and money goes to local communities too. The income helps communities live with the trees and forests that the butterflies need. They also raise wider awareness and understanding. Local farmers are trained to catch butterflies, raise the caterpillars, and care for their pupae. Once pupate, or forms a chrysalis, the butterfly is then taken to the center where it is either released in a viewing enclosure or popped in an envelope and sent to a butterfly center in Europe or America, which provide education and visitor attractions
Butterflies are iconic invertebrates with fascinating life cycles. With around 19,000 species
worldwide and about 1583 species occurring in Tanzania. They are very important to their natural
habitats, because they are important pollinators, second only to bees and wasps, when feeding
on plant nectar. Besides being a beautiful component of biodiversity they are an indicator of
environmental health and change. During their life, butterflies need three basic things – host plants
for the larvae, nectar plants for adults, and a healthy environment without chemicals. You have heard of wheat farmers, rice farmers, and even avocado farmers. Well, what about butterfly farmers? Yes, such a thing does exist, and this is a story about butterfly farmers in Tanzania and finding out what they are doing and why. In the last 20 years, several butterfly centers have been set up in East Africa. These centers aim to show off these fantastic insects, help local communities, and support their survival. Either for export or tourism, these centers earn revenue, and money goes to local communities too. The income helps communities live with the trees and forests that the butterflies need. They also raise wider awareness and understanding. Local farmers are trained to catch butterflies, raise the caterpillars, and care for their pupae. Once pupate, or forms a chrysalis, the butterfly is then taken to the center where it is either released in a viewing enclosure or popped in an envelope and sent to a butterfly center in Europe or America, which provide education and visitor attractions
About the Film
This is the story about the Butterfly farming in Zanzibar, a popular tourist attraction in Pete village, close to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Butterfly farming was started by Zanzibar Butterfly Center in 2006. The idea was to offer a sustainable opportunity for rural communities to increase and diversify their income and support forest conservation. At its height it provided employment opportunities to about 20 [TBC] local community members around Jozani forest. While butterfly farming combines business and livelihoods.