What is your idea of a perfect holiday experience? A long trek in the mountains, sitting by the ocean sipping your chilled pina colada, camping in the forest with friends and family? But, has the thought of spending a weekend at a farm and experiencing the life of a typical farmer in the first person ever crossed your mind when it comes to vacation?(The Agri-Tourism)
If it has, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a growing culture for agriculture tourism or agri-tourism.
_______________________________________________________________________
Read Also : Why climate change is still the greatest threat to human health
________________________________________________________________________
What is Agri-tourism?
Agri-tourism is a new trend of providing a first-person experience to the urban dwellers of the rural farm life. It is a commercial venture carried out at a working farm or agricultural plant involving guided tours for the enjoyment of the travelers as well as to generate supplemental revenue for the owner.
This type of tourism has seen a sudden boost over the last few years as nowadays, most of the people live in urban towns and cities and, at some point, crave to find their rural roots.
What is Agro-tourism?
Agro-tourism is a subset of Agri-tourism, and it specifically refers to activities like conducted tours on private agricultural lands and might even include overnight stays, educational activities, etc. Whereas, Agri-tourism covers a broader market spectrum from the educational aspect of tourism in farms to all the direct and indirect farm sales that occur in the farms as a part of the tour.
Understanding the scope of Agri-tourism
Agri-tourism is a broad concept and includes outdoor recreation, educational experiences, entertainment (local festivals and occasions), hospitality services (overnight farm stays, farm bed, and breakfast services, guided tours, etc.) as well as sales made in farm-based products such as locally made handicrafts, pickles, and other condiments, etc.
Rural Tourism
One might think that agri-tourism and rural tourism are both the same thing.
Agri-tourism, as we know, is limited to farmlands and usually generates some income for the farm owners. Whereas rural tourism is not necessarily limited to farmlands, they do not generate supplemental income for the agricultural enterprise.
________________________________________________________________________
Read Also : 8 Nutrients and 16 Foods to Boost Your Mood — What to Eat to…
________________________________________________________________________
Scope of Agri-tourism in India
India has always been an agriculturally intense country. Both in terms of contribution to overall employment opportunities as well as GDP contribution. But, off late people from villages are migrating to towns and cities in search of a better job and educational opportunities.
This sudden shift of population from rural to urban parts of India has led to a loss of connection between the new generation of kids and their rural roots.
That is where agri-tourism comes along and provides an excellent opportunity for people to either relive their childhood memories or discover life on farms.
Agri-cultural tourism provides the tourists with an opportunity to discover and learn and about the different agricultural practices in parts of the country as well as helps the farm owners to earn some supplemental revenue during off-seasons. It also helps to develop a sense of admiration for the lives of the farmers among the tourists.
Thus, agricultural tourism can help improve general awareness and a sense of appreciation amongst the urban folks about the rural lifestyle as well as support the farmers economically.
Some Popular Agri-Tourism Destinations in India
Here are some popular farm stay destinations in India to help you plan your next agri-tourism vacation.
Dewalokam:
Located conveniently at a distance of 90 mins drive from the Kochi airport in Kerela, this organic ancestral owned by a Syrian family is a pleasant stay for those looking to relax by a placid-river and nature reserve. This farm stay also provides a range of activities for guests, including spice walks, bamboo rafting, temple visits, cow milking, etc.
Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay:
The farm stay, spread across 50 acres of lush green land, offers a very different experience than your usual Goa trip. Dudhsagar farm grows everything from pineapples to cashews, and they even have their cashew feni distillery.
One can tour this farm in a jeep or choose to trek and discover the lesser-known spots within the property. Like, the waterfall or the sparkling fresh river water within the jungle.
Konyak Tea Retreat:
Located in the Mon District in Nagaland, this tea plantation offers a very offbeat and remarkable farm stay experience. When in this plantation, the visitors get to experience traditional Naga culture along with the tea plantation. The farm also has an orange orchid as well as other organic vegetable plantations.
Other activities here include hiking, visiting the village of the Konyak Tribe, milking goats and cows, working on paddy fields, learning how to smoke meat in traditional style, etc.
Citrus County
Located in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Citrus County is one of the biggest success stories when it comes to agritourism ventures in India. What started in 2006 as a source to generate much needed extra income for the farm soon became a crucial revenue-generating source for the farm.
As the name suggests, Citrus County has several citrus fruits planted within the 70 acres of its farmland. The guests here can go fruit picking, explore local villages, take a tour of the fields in a tractor, visit the dairy farm, learn various farming techniques, and even cook Punjabi food.
Tathagata Farm:
Located in the beautiful hill station of Darjeeling, this farm stay offers the visitors to experience the plantation process of the famous Darjeeling tea first hand. Other than that, this farm also grows cardamom, ginger, vegetables, oranges, etc.
Activities in this farm stay include nature trails, trekking, fishing, picnicking, guided walks, and treks.
________________________________________________________________________
Read Also : ECO-FRIENDLY FESTIVE SEASON – HOW TO CELEBRATE?,
_______________________________________________________________________
Government Support
The vast cultural, religious, and geographical diversity of our country makes it the perfect tourist destination for both international as well as domestic travelers. The government has recognized the potential of the tourism sector in our country, and over the years has taken several measures to promote it.
Most of the travelers come to experience the diverse culture and traditions in our country, and the best place to witness them is in the villages of India. So, the government has made agri-tourism a part of several of its tourism schemes like the Swadesh Bharat Scheme, PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation) Scheme, etc. to promote the development of tourism in our country, especially in the rural parts.
Tags: #agri, #agricultura, #agriculture, #agriculturelife, #agro, #farm, #farmer, #farmers, #farming, #farmlife, #fendt, #getgreengetgrowing, #gngagritech, #greenstories, #johndeere, #nature, #newholland, #Tractor
