Here is an essay on ‘Agricultural Tourism’ for class 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Agricultural Tourism’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Agricultural Tourism
Essay Contents:
- Introduction to Agricultural Tourism
- Agri-Tourism: Innovative Income Generating Activity for Enterprising Farmers
- Scope for Agri-Tourism
- Educational Value of Agri-Tourism
- Basic Principles of Agri-Tourism
- Success of Agri-Tourism
- Agri-Tourism Opportunities in India
- Market Mix Strategy of Agri-Tourism in India
- Entertainment Agri-Tourism
- Promotion of Agri-Tourism
Essay # 1. Introduction to Agricultural Tourism:
Agricultural tourism is successful because it takes us back to a culture that was one of oneness with our environment. People cared for animals, placed their seeds to be grown, and harvested their crops. People worked together to harvest crops. It was a time of great effort, yet great joy and accomplishment.
At one time there were 60 million people living on farms, and this was in a population of around 100,000,000. Now there are about 1 million farmers left in the nation of over 300,000,000. Is there any wonder that we feel separated, isolated from our connection with the land? We have children who do not know how animals are born or how fruits grow on trees.
We see commercials with boxes of cereals being grown in fields. Agricultural tourism is a new field which allows people to experience the cycle of life, the growth of plants, the birth and death of animals. We see the cycle of nature, the natural earth system in microcosm.
You provide recreational experiences and visits to rural settings or rural projects where your customers participate in and experience many kinds of activities, events or attractions developed specifically for them.
Commodity prices paid at the farm gate have fallen far behind inflation. The profits from agricultural are captured by the middleman, leaving the farmers going bankrupt, leaving their lands while the processors get richer and richer. Family farmers have to find a new way to market directly to the customers. Agricultural tourism has been part of farming in Europe for centuries. Farmer in the USA is finding that agricultural tourism can help them keep their lands and their way of life.
Many are supplementing their farm’s income by offering overnight accommodations, farm visits, nature walks, and other activities to the public.
In order to create an agricultural tourism project, you have to make it fun learning experiences for the ag tourist. There are many ways to enable your ag tourists to have a memorable experience, one they will tell their friends about and one that will attract them year after year to come to your place.
Ag tourists want to eat farm fresh produce, have farm fresh foods cooked and eaten in a family like environment. You can develop a wide variety of ag tourism projects
Level One – Simply sell farm fresh produce at a roadside stands, by membership clubs, through U-Pick operations, or farmers markets.
Roadside Stands sales allow you as farmer to sells fresh produced, canned, dried, pickled or otherwise processed food and floral products from a direct to consumers stand or kiosk located on or near his farm or along a road near the farm.
Pick-Your-Own Projects:
You provide for customers in your fruit orchards or vegetable fields, where your customers harvest the fruits or products.
Rent-a-Tree Operations:
Here you rent/lease a tree or trees to your customer where all the fees on a particular tree belong to them. The customer pays the farmer at the beginning of the season, the farmer takes care of the trees and either the farmer or the customer will do the harvesting.
Hospitality Provision:
Where you offer bed and breakfast, room stays, overnight or longer visits, camping activities.
Short Term Visits:
Where you offer your customers the opportunity to visit your farm for short periods of time where they enjoy many different activities
Tourism is the fastest growing business in the world. And since September 11, customers are seeking safer ways to have an enjoyable experience. Agricultural tourism can bridge the gap between farm and city dwellers, to the benefit of both. At one time most city people had relatives in the countryside; they no longer have them available since so few people live on farms. Many city people want farm vacations, to get away, but they don’t have relatives or friends who are farmers. They also want to eat locally grown food, particularly organic food.
Agricultural tourism provides enjoyment and education for the public, promotes products from the farm, and increases income for the farm. Already in many areas, there are pumpkin festivals, fruit festivals, flower festivals, bird watching trips, hikes, hay-wagon rides. You can create mountain bike trails, horseback riding trails. Most of all, they want to see how a real farm works and to be a part of that cycle of life for a time.
Roadside stands have been used by farmers for years. A new concept of farm stays with bed and breakfast is rapidly growing. The fact is that it is up to farmers to promote the knowhow about the importance of farming in our country. Your project must have strict rules for customers and teach your customer about farming and how the presence is allowing them to preserve their farms.
If you want to develop a successful agricultural tourism you will need to really be interested in developing such a project and have the kind of personality that loves to meet new people and share fun and learning with them. Your land or farm must have enough acreage, good ambience, land and water or scenery, and be able to develop accommodations for them. You need to be close enough for the kind of clients you are seeking and a source for needed startup and seed capital.
In addition, you must set up a library of information, reach every website on agricultural and other tourism available print of copy, and develop your own idea book.
You’ve got to really want to do this. That means a sincere interest, a personality that is outgoing and patient, land and water resources sufficient to accommodate the chosen venture, capital for start-up and conversion costs, and an accessible location.
You need to become an expert in people interaction and the kinds of activities you will be offering. You will need a business plan and create relationships with other farmers in the area that you can use for diversification of long term visitors to your farm. And you need to teach, to be a place of fun ways and enjoy meeting and talking with people who know absolutely nothing about farming. Can you be genteel with those who are totally in the dark, and be willing to explain over and over again the same activity or operation?
Remember customers need community. They need to feel they belong to have a home. People want to experience nature, to see what it’s like to live on the land, and want to know people who live the natural life. They need to regenerate, they need a hayride, animals to pet, sack races. You can create cooking classes, pickling classes, canning and drying seminars. You can show them how to pick flowers and dry them. You need to understand how to make them pack into two weeks the experience of a whole year. Your place can become their place of renewal, of connection to the natural life.
There is a downside such as traffic, noise, water use. But when you develop a business, there are going to be problems and issues. It’s up to you to decide if the potential profit is worth the problems and efforts.
A key to a successful agricultural tourism project is to expand it into a multiple profit Enviroadventure project. For example bird watching can also be combined with wildlife watching. Restoring streamside habitat, protecting wetlands, and creating favorable conditions for bird feeding, birding trails and natural trails are all options you can pursue.
Make your guests want to stay longer than overnight by creating a community/family feeling. Let them experience farm life with a farm family. Have them experience eating together and actually talking about the day’s events together. Set up a community with membership cards, newsletter and website where members can enroll and communicate with others who visit your place. You have many options such as short trips and daylong trips with lunch.
Essay # 2. Agri-Tourism: Innovative Income Generating Activity for Enterprising Farmers:
Agriculture is backbone of Indian Economy. 85 percent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on Agriculture where as 26 percent of GDP comes from Agriculture. 110 million farmers are dwelling in 6.25 lakh villages producing more than 200 MT of food grains feeding the country.
More than profession, business, agriculture is culture. Hence, adding additional income generating activities to existing Agriculture would certainly increase contribution of Agriculture to national GDP. Serious efforts need to be made in this direction. Agri-Tourism is one such activity.
Tourism is termed as instrument for employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development. During 1999-2000, direct employment created by tourism is 15.5 million. Besides, tourism also promotes national integration, international understanding and supports local handicrafts and cultural activities. During 2000, number of foreign tourists that visited India is 26.41 lakhs. India’s share in world tour market is just 0.38 percent. With this meager share, foreign exchange earned is Rs. 14,475 crores.
Turnover in domestic tourism is much more than this. To promote domestic tourism, thrust areas identified by Government of India are development of infrastructure, product development and diversification, development of eco-adventure sports, cultural presentations, providing inexpensive accommodation, streamlining facilitation procedures at airports, human resource development, creating awareness and public participation and facilitation of private sector participation.
In this process, important stakeholders are state and central department of tourism, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Tourism Development Corporations, foreign embassies, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Tourists, Transport Operators Association, Indian convention promotion bureau and Pacific Asia Travel Association (RATA).
Promotion of Agri-tourism involves some more important stakeholders namely Ministry of Agriculture and line departments at state and central governments and farmers. Promotion of Agri-Tourism needs conceptual convergence with Rural Tourism, Eco-Tourism, Health Tourism, Adventure Tourism and culinary adventures.
Greatest advantages of Agri-tourism are:
1. It brings major primary sector agriculture closer to major service sector tourism. This convergence is expected to create win-win situation for both the sectors.
2. Tourism sector has potential to enlarge.
3. Agriculture sector has the capacity to absorb expansion in Tourism Sector.
Essay # 3. Scope for Agri-Tourism:
Agri-Tourism has great scope in the present context for the following reasons:
1. An Inexpensive Gateway:
The cost of food, accommodation, recreation and travel is minimum in Agri-Tourism. This widens the tourist base. Present concept of travel and tourism is limited to urban and rich class which constitute only small portion of the population. However, the concept of Agri-tourism takes travel and tourism to the larger population, widening the scope of tourism due to its cost effectiveness.
2. Curiosity about the Farming Industry and Life Style:
The urban population basically which has roots in villages always has curiosity about the sources of food, plants, animals, raw materials like wood, handicrafts, languages, culture, tradition, dresses and lifestyle. Agri-tourism which revolves around the farmers, villages and agriculture has the capacity to satisfy the curiosity of this segment of population. Agri-tourism provides scope for re- discoursing the rural life which is rich in diversity.
Strong demand for wholesome family oriented recreational activities villages provide recreational opportunities to all age groups i.e. children young, middle and old age, male, female, in total to the whole family at cheaper cost. Rural games, festivals, food, dress and the nature provides variety of entertainment to the whole family.
Health consciousness of urban population and finding solace with nature friendly means modern lifestyle has made the life stressful and average life span has come down. Hence, people are in constant search of pro-nature means to make life more peaceful. Ayurveda which is pro-nature medical approach has roots in villages. Indigenous medical knowledge of villagers is respected. Organic foods are in greater demand in urban areas and foreign countries. In total, health conscious urban population is looking towards pro- nature villages for solutions.
3. Desire for Peace and Tranquility:
Modern life is the product of diversified thinking and diversified activities. Every individual attempts to work more, in different directions to earn more money to enjoy modern comforts. Hence, peace is always out of his system. Tourism is the means for searching peaceful location. Peace and tranquility are inbuilt in Agri-tourism as it is away from urban areas and close to nature.
4. Interest in Natural Environment:
Busy urban population is leaning towards nature because natural environment is always away from busy life. Birds, animals, crops, mountains, water bodies, villages provide totally different atmosphere to urban population in which they can forget their busy urban life.
5. Disillusionment with Overcrowded Resorts and Cities:
In resorts and cities, overcrowded peace seekers disturb each other’s peace. Hence, peace is beyond cities and resorts. Even though efforts are made to create village atmosphere in the sub urban areas through resorts, farm houses, it looks like a donkey painted with tiger colour. Artificiality is highlighted and not satisfying.
6. Nostalgia for their Roots on the Farm:
Cities are growing at the cost of villages. Villagers are migrating to cities in search of jobs and seeking comforts of modern life. Hence, yesterday’s villagers are today urbanites. Deep in the heart of urbanites lies the love and respect for their ancestors and villages. Hence, visit to villages satisfies their desire. This is also expressed through the hatredness of urbanites to flat culture and love for farmhouses located in the outskirts of cities. Any opportunity to visit villages and spend time with family is dream of any urbanite. But, minimum decent facilities are always problem. Agri-tourism attempts to overcome this problem.
7. Rural Recreation:
Villages provide varieties of recreation to urbanites through festivals and handicrafts. Villager’s (farmers) lifestyle, dress, languages, culture / traditions always add value to the entertainment. Agriculture environment around farmers and the entire production process could create curiosity among urban thought. Places of agriculture importance like highest crop yielding farm, highest animal yielding farm, processing units, farms where innovations tried add attraction to the tourists. Agriculture products like farm gate fresh market, processed foods, organic food could lure the urban tourists.
As result of this Agri-atmosphere in the villages, there is scope to develop Agri-tourism products like Agri-shopping, culinary tourism, pick and own your tree / plot, bed and breakfast, pick and pay, bullock cart riding, camel riding, boating, fishing, herbal walk, rural games and health (Ayurvedic) tourism.
Essay # 4. Educational Value of Agri-Tourism:
Agri-tourism can create awareness about rural life and knowledge about agriculture science among urban school children. It provides a best alternative for school picnics which are urban based. It provides opportunity for hands on experience for urban college students in Agriculture.
It is a means for providing training to future farmers. It would be effectively used as educational and training tool to train agriculture and line department officers. This provides unique opportunity for education through recreation where learning is fun effective and easy. Seeing is believing, doing is learning and most importantly experiences are USP of Agri-tourism.
Essay # 5. Basic Principles of Agri-Tourism:
Agri-tourism should ensure the following three basic principles:
1. Have Something for Visitors to See:
Animals, birds, farms and nature are the few things which Agri-tourism could offer to the tourist to see. Apart from these, culture, dress, festivals and rural games could create enough interest among forest in Agri-tourism.
2. Have Something for Visitors to Do:
Participating in agricultural operations and swimming, bullock cart riding, camel riding, buffalo riding, cooking and participating in the rural games are the few activities to quote in which tourist can take part and enjoy.
3. Have Something for Visitors to Buy:
Rural crafts, dress materials, farm gate fresh agriculture products, processed foods are the few items which tourist can buy as memento for remembrance.
Essay # 6. Success of Agri-Tourism:
Three important factors which contribute to the success of Agri-Tourism:
1. Farmer:
Majority of the cases, farmer is less educated, less exposed and innocent. For farmer, any outsider is a guest and treated wholeheartedly without any commercial motive. Treating guest is pleasure for them than pain. He entertains the guest while entertaining himself in the process. He is not like an exploitative natured businessman which itself facilitate a clean tourism atmosphere.
2. Village:
Village, which is located far from the city, lacks urban facilities but is blessed with natural resources. The investment is made by nature in the form of water bodies, fields, forest, mountains, deserts and islands. Community is more homogenous and treating a guest is part of their culture rather than a profession leading to natural environment required for urban tourist.
3. Agriculture:
Rich resources in agriculture namely; land, water and plants are unique from place to place bringing diversity and creating curiosity. Each field is unique which adds to the attraction of tourists. The way of cultivation and the products are great attraction to the urban population. Indigenous knowledge of rural people is a wealth, which adds to novelty and curiosity of urban population.
Combination of farmer, village and agriculture create a wonderful situation which provides unlimited satisfaction to the tourist especially from urban areas.
Essay # 7. Agri-Tourism Opportunities in India:
Indian tourism industry is growing @10.1%. The World Tourism organization has estimated that the tourism industry is growing at the rate of 4% a year and that by the year 2010 there will be more than one billion tourist visits in various parts of the world. But Indian tourism industry is growing at the rate of 10% which is 2.5 times more than that of the growth rate at global level. By introducing Agri-tourism concept, not only present growth rate is sustained but also this value addition contributes to further growth.
India has entered amongst the top 10 tourist destinations list (Conde Nast Travellor – A leading European Travel Magazine). India is already established as one of the top tourist destination in the world. Value addition by introducing novel products like Agri-tourism would only strengthen the competitiveness of Indian tourism industry in global market.
India has diverse culture and geography which provide ample and unlimited scope for the growth of this business. India has diverse agro-climatic conditions, diverse crops, people, culture, deserts, mountains, coastal systems and islands which provide scope for promotion of all season, multi-location tourism products.
There are an increasing number of tourists preferring non-urban tourist spots (financial express). Hence, there is scope for promotion of non-urban tourist spots in interior villages by establishing Agri-tourism centres. But, adequate facilities and publicity are a must to promote such centres.
Government initiatives and policies in X five year plan, allocation has been increased from 525 crore to 2900 crores. Increased financial allocation reaffirms the government commitment. The increased financial allocation by six times could be used for capacity building of service providers, creation of infrastructure and publicity.
Essay # 8. Market Mix Strategy of Agri-Tourism in India:
The proposed market mix strategy for the promotion of agri-tourism concept is as follows:
1. Product:
The product in Agri-tourism is seeing, believing and ultimately experiencing. This experience is unique and unmatched. The experience of climbing a tree, buffalo riding in the pond and enjoying the sugarcane juice in the field itself are unique and none of the million dollar tourist centres can create and offer such experiences.
2. Price:
a) Customer Segment Pricing:
Domestic and foreign tourist could be priced differently as the capacity to pay is different. For a bullock cart riding, a foreign tourist can pay one dollar where as a domestic tourist can pay only one fourth.
b) Pricing:
Pricing in Agri-tourism depends upon location and importance. Agri-tourism which just offers agriculture and rural life as attraction can charge normal pricing whereas Agri-tourism spots which are very close to established tourism centres like temple towns, hill stations, around big cities can go far little bit higher charging due to added value. As the pricing in established tourism places are high, it works out to be cheaper for tourist to stay and enjoy in Agri-tourism spots.
c) Time Pricing:
Agri-tourism units can charge higher in peak season i.e. November to January and change less during rest of the period. During rural festivals or at the time of important events, Agri-tourism units can charge more, even though it is during offseason.
3. Place:
The place where tourists are accommodated also influences the pricing. It the tourists are accommodated in villages itself with the farmer, the charging can be less whereas accommodation in farms cost high. Because, exclusively for tourist purpose infrastructure is created in farm whereas existing facilities are used in farmer’s house in village.
4. Promotion:
Promotion of Agri-tourism and strategic alliance can takes place at three levels:
(i) Alliance with Airlines, Tour Operators and Foreign Embassies:
This alliance brings foreign tourists and upper middle class urban tourists into Agri-tourism fold. It may not be possible for individual farmers to take up this task. Government can assist the Agri-tourism units through promotion and co-ordination activities through central and state tourism departments.
(ii) Alliance with Hotel Industry:
Large number of domestic tourists can be attracted through alliance with hotel industry. The hotel industry can be used to promote Agri- tourism concept.
(iii) Promotion by Agri-Tourism Units:
Basically the promotion takes place through mouth to mouth and local publicity given by Agri-tourism units. As the absorption capacity of each unit is very less, direct marketing with little aggressive mode is enough for Agri-tourism units to survive. They can go for combined publicity on cost sharing basis and also publics the Agri-tourism potential in other part of the country. But, promotion of this group approach needs initial government interventions.
5. Policies:
Some of the policy initiatives of urban government would surely help promotion of Agri-tourism.
They are:
(i) Building brand identity of incredible India.
(ii) Rs.60 crore budget for promoting brand.
(iii) X five year plan budget increased from Rs. 525 to 2900 crores.
(iv) An allocation of Rs.50 lakhs per village for village tourism has been proposed.
(v) The states are encouraging private public partnership in tourism sector.
6. Positioning:
Ultimately Agri-tourism concept has to be positioned in the minds of tourists as Come, pluck a fruit, smell a flower, run in the fields, lie on the hay and be lost in rural India.
Essay # 9. Entertainment Agri-Tourism:
Agri-tourism involvement in agricultural operations creates joyful experience to the tourist. Agri-tourist involvement in mulching, harvesting competitions, tree climbing, edible adventure, bullock cart race, buffalo race in wet fields namely Kambala in Karnataka, shooting a coconut target, fishing etc. could generate enormous joy at least cost. There is enough scope to charge entry fee to farmers, providing feed and accommodation on payment basis and charging the participation of Agri-tourist during rural games would also generate income to the farmers.
Agri-tourism is a viable income generating activity in many developed counties which would provide lead to promote the same with modifications suiting to our conditions.
They are:
(i) Wineries with Friday happy hours.
(ii) Arts & Crafts Demonstrations.
(iii) Farm Store – Exhibition of farm equipment.
(iv) Roadside Stand selling fresh farm products and craft items.
(v) Processing of farm products and sale.
(vi) Demonstration of Agri-activities.
(vii) Sheep Shearing.
(viii) Wool Processing.
(ix) Fee fishing/hunting.
(x) Farm Vacations.
(xi) Bed and Breakfast
(xii) Farm Tours.
(xiii) Horseback Riding.
(xiv) Cross-country skiing.
(xv) Camping.
Essay # 10. Promotion of Agri-Tourism:
The issues which need attention for the promotion of Agri-tourism are:
1. Publicity:
It is difficult to provide publicity to a remote Agri-tourism unit. Hence, either collectively such Agri-tourism operators can provide publicity or organizations like ITDC, State tourism development corporations, NGOs, press and tour operators can take up this responsibility.
Information technology can play very important role in promotion of Agri-tourism. An interactive website containing all details about Agri-tourism locations and a toll free 24 hours help line can provide necessary information to Agri-tourists.
2. Transport:
Reaching the remote Agri-tourism units is the greatest challenge due to lack of approach roads and poor transportation facilities in rural areas. Tele connectivity is a must which is yet to reach villages. Government should play important role in creating these facilities namely roads, transport and telecommunication to rural areas especially where Agri-tourism units are established on priority basis. These efforts could be effective with private participation in partnership mode.
3. Accommodation:
Safe and clean accommodation is a must in Agri-tourism. Urban and foreign tourists look for these minimum facilities. Orienting Agri tour operators on one hand and providing incentive to such efforts on other hand is necessary. Regular clean water supply and neat toilets are important. At the same time, it is necessary to limit modern facilities in which Agri-tourist is not interested.
4. Networking:
Networking public and private stakeholders at national and state level to assist the Agri-tourism operator at remote place is necessary. This network can get policy support, infrastructure and publicity to Agri- tourism units.
5. Capacity Building of Farmers:
Farmer need to be oriented on maintenance of facilities, hospitality and public relation which he is not aware.
6. Safety of Tourists:
Agri-tourism units are located in remote areas which lack roads, medical facilities, telecommunication and sometimes threat from theft and wild animals. Hence, support of local population is a must besides facilities for emergency medical care.
7. Private-Public Partnership:
Agripreneurs, farmers, organizations, co-operatives, NGOs and agribusiness companies can take up these ventures with the help of farmers and government agencies tour operators.
Transporters and hospitality industry would also benefit in the process.