Know how your holiday will help farmer's income grow

Whenever we think about going for a holiday, we always imagine going to exotic destinations, road trips, mountains, beaches, luxury hotels or resorts. How about going to a place where fresh smell of the wet soil, the fresh air wafting through the hair, chirping of the birds in a majestic surrounding which makes you fall in love with the nature and do many local activities that will helps you unwind from your regular hectic life – Holiday in farms!!

?Agritourism is a travel organized around working farm for the purpose of enjoyment, education with primary objective to have a rural experience. Travellers who participate in this type of vacation are the ones who frequently desire to see how food is grown and prepared or to learn how animals are raised. It’s a wonderful way for city dweller who lead hectic lives to reconnect with the rural life, providing a "hands on experience" with local foods. Agritourism activities mainly include picking fruits and vegetables, tending bees, milking cows, bird watching, wine trails, hay making and other educational pursuits. Agritourism is a popular concept across the world especially in European countries.?In Italy, agritourism is formulated since 1985 by the state law. Similarly, in US agritourism enterprises are well developed especially is California, which includes others activities like fairs and festivals.

?Agri-tourism market globally was valued at $42.46 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $62.98 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 13.4 per cent between 2020 and 2027.In India Agritourism was founded by Pandurang Taware, who is also known as ‘Father of Agritourism concept in India’. Pandurang Taware, son of a farmer from Shangavi in Baramati district, Maharashtra, who spent 20 years of his life into the tourism sector before returning to his family legacy of farming. His prior work experience and current struggles of farmers got him?find a way of merging both and hence gave birth to Agritourism.?He started working on this concept way back in 2003 and with immense research and market survey, in 2005 he launched Agri Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) in Maharashtra. The idea behind setting up this tourism is not just to host travelers to experienced farming life but to introduce them to fresh?farm produce which can help boosts farmers income.

ATDC has more than 600 farmers across Maharashtra who are associated?with Agritourism and have managed to make Rs 50 crore sale of farm produce and tours conducted before covid?times.

ATDC in Maharashtra gives its traveler an experience of staying like a farmer, engage in farming activities, experience the bullock cart, tractor ride, fly kites, eat authentic food, wearing traditional clothes, understanding the local culture, enjoying the folk songs and dance, buying fresh farm produce and this in turn helps the farmer maintain their home and earn an additional income. To experience this life will cost you Rs 1,000 per person for one day which includes two major meals; breakfast, lunch and evening tea with snacks. For travelers who wish to spend the night on the farm, the cost increases to Rs 1,500, which will include all meals.

Pandurang has won many national and international accolades for promoting agritourism in Maharashtra. These include two national awards in 2008-2009 for introducing the most innovative tourism product in the country and for promoting responsible tourism in 2013- 2014.

There are agritourism present in other parts of India as well, like is?R.O.S.E?(Rural Opportunity for Social Elevation) in?small village in the hills of Kumaon situated in the?Bageshwar?district of?Uttarakhand?is working with the agritourism model where the tourists can avail homestays amidst the wheat fields and scenic mountain views and indulge in regular work like cooking, harvesting of crops, building of toilets, teaching English to the school kids and many other activities.?While in central part of the country at Rawla Kaneriya, the Agri-tourism encompasses a variety of activities- farm tours, farm vacations, farm bed & breakfast accommodations, hiking, nature study, hayrides, workshops, fishing and more. The storytelling sessions in the evenings add on to the experience.

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in southern part of the country has come up with a unique concept of agritourism to promote rural tourism which welcomes all their guest in farms to experience fresh smell of grounded spices, coconut water, cool climate and a varied cultural mix along with integrated lush green horticulture farms, dairy, fishing.

?Emergence of Agritourism has not only helped the farmers but to communities and tourism industry as well.

Agritourism focuses on travel that is low-impact and empowering to local communities, both socially and economically. It is also helping farmers recognize the need to diversify their farm products and supplement their agricultural incomes. Agritourism is seen as a viable option for the long-term sustainability of farms and it can prop up agricultural economy when local producers can no longer compete economically.

Agribid is a digital marketplace, connecting and empowering small and big farmers to their buyers- locally and globally through online app. Our aim is to make a social impact through simple, fast, and transparent agricultural transactions and create a huge yet simplified and efficient B2B marketplace for all the farmers to sell their produce to traders and corporates in a hassle-free way at the best prices. With a vision to empower the farming community of India and create multiple local and global opportunities for their growth and support them in every way possible. Our mission is to touch upon the lives of farmers and not just be a regular Agritech company but an Agritouch company.

To know how?Agribid is working for the farmer community of India visit us at: www.agribidindia.com.

If you are a farmer or know any farmer's or are commodity buyer/ seller, trade desk operator and looking for quality food you can download Agribid app through:

Play Store (Android):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifelsesolutions.agribid

App Store (Apple)

https://apps.apple.com/in/app/agribidindia/id1562616655

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