ARCHITECTURAL DISSERTATION
AGRO TOURISM
M. AJAY KUMAR
316106101013
5/5 B. ARCH
AGRO TOURISM
INTRODUCTION
• Agro-tourism is the latest concept in the Indian tourism
industry, which normally occurs on farms.
• Agro-tourism is a form of agricultural multi-functionality it
gives you the opportunity to experience the real alluring and
authentic contact with the village life, taste the local veritable
food and get familiar with the many farming tasks during the
visit.
• The youth population in rural specially the school dropouts,
educational backward and rural women constitute more than
50% of our rural population will get employment.
• Many Indian farmers especially from Pune and Maharashtra
currently involved in or are considering the use of agro-
tourism as a mode of diversifying their farm operations.
• ATDC has been contributing its efforts for the overall
upliftment of the farmers in rural areas.
• It gives opportunity to urban tourist to escape from his busy
and hectic routine and allows him to go back to his roots.
• It gives the tourists glimpse of village ambience, local cuisine,
culture and art.
AIM
The study is to examine the benefits and applicability of Agro
tourism. The study includes their benefits and problems.
OBJECTIVES
• To examine the importance of agro-tourism development
in Andhra Pradesh.
• To define a suitable framework for the of agro- tourism
centers in the view of marginal and small farmers.
• To identify the problems of the agro-tourism and make
suggestions to establishment and operations of agro-
tourism.
SCOPE
• An inexpensive gateway
• Curiosity about the farming industry and life style
• Strong demand for wholesome family oriented recreational
activities
• Health consciousness of urban population and finding
solace with nature friendly means
• Desire for peace and tranquility
• Interest in natural environment
• Disillusionment with over crowded resorts and cities
• Nostalgia for their roots on the farm
• Rural recreation
• Educational value of Agro-Tourism
Benefits of Agro-Tourism Centers
Agro-Tourism has the potential to change the economic face of
traditional agriculture. It would bring many direct and indirect
benefits to the farmers and rural people. Some of the benefits
are following:
• Employment opportunities to the farmers including farm
family members and youth
• Additional income source for the farmers to protest against
income fluctuation.
• Cultural transformation between urban and rural people
including social moral values
• Farmers can improve their standard of living due to the
contacts with urban people.
• Benefits to the urban people, they can understand about the
rural life and know about the agricultural activities.
• It support for rural and agricultural development process.
• Help to the reduce burden on the other traditional tourist
centers.
Rural Tourism Agro-tourism Ecotourism
All forms of tourism Tourism activities Nature-based form
that take place in directly related to of tourism, the
rural areas or rural agriculture main motivation of
communities the tourists being
the observation and
appreciation of
nature as well as
the traditional
cultures prevailing
in natural areas
Practiced in small Practiced in a farm Service providers
family owned or household as a tend to be small,
establishments secondary source of locally owned
income businesses
Highlights natural Educational Has educational and
areas, local activities are interpretation
practices, culture undertaken, aiming features, increasing
and gastronomy at highlighting and awareness towards
explaining aspects the conservation of
of agricultural natural and cultural
lifestyle assets
Often referred to as Often referred to as Often referred to as
“agro tourism”, “farm based “sustainable
“nature-based tourism”, “rural tourism”,
tourism”, “farm- tourism” and “responsible
based tourism” and “village tourism” tourism” and
“village tourism” “green tourism”
Rural Tourism Agro-tourism Ecotourism
Independent Entirely integrate Perfectly described
activity integrated within rural tourism as “niche tourism”,
in the tertiary differs from rural
sector of the tourism by the
economy, closeness to nature
alternative/comple and the more
mentary form of rational exploitation
mass-tourism of tourism
resources.
Potential customers Potential customers Potential customers
are nature-lovers are interested in are interested in
farming, crafting, meaningful
folklore, natural community
agricultural participation, slow
products and travel, high-quality
gastronomy experiences,
picturesque,
nature-made
elements,
gastronomy,
traditions and
routes that allow
them to feel as if
they were locals
TYPES OF AGRO TOURISM
The scope of agro tourism varies drastically depending on the
type of farm, available land and how much of the business is
aimed at the agro tourism market. However, the varying forms
can be broken down into three basic groups
1. Direct-market agro tourism: If you've ever seen a roadside
produce stand, you've seen direct-market agro tourism in action.
Farmers sell goods like produce, canned items and other organic
products directly to consumers either at markets and fairs or on
the farm itself, often alongside other agro tourism offerings.
Farmers may be selling an organic product similar to what
consumers could find at a grocery store, but their product has the
added appeal of coming directly from a local farm. To appeal to
some consumers, the goods may be marketed as organic, all-
natural, or the product of "old-fashioned" methods.
2. Education and experience agro tourism: This form of agro
tourism includes pick-your-own apple groves, farm tours, bed-
and-breakfasts and packages aimed at giving guests a hands-on
education in farm life. The farm itself is marketed as a tourist
destination. Whether agro tourists pay to pick their own produce,
attend wine tastings at a vineyard or simply enjoy the farm
atmosphere, the draw is first-hand experience. Once visitors are
acquainted with the farm more closely, they may also be more
inclined to buy its agricultural products.
3. Recreation and event agro tourism: While still considered agro
tourism, these offerings tend to involve using farm land for other
marketable uses. Harvest festivals, corn mazes, haunted hay rides
and country weddings held on farm land may draw heavily on the
farm's atmosphere. Other activities like camping, archery and
horseback riding are often less dependent on the farm itself.
However, such forms of agro tourism still draw in guests who may
be tempted to buy goods.
REQUIREMENTS
To develop an agro tourism in their farm, the farmer / farmers
must have basic infrastructure and facilities in their farm as
follows:
• Accommodation facilities at same place or alliance.
• Farmhouse, which has the rural look and feel comfortable
along with all minimum required facilities.
• Cooking equipments for cooking food, if tourist have
interested.
• Emergency medical cares with first aid box.
• Restaurant.
• Outdoor dining.
• The well or lake or tank for fishing.
• swimming pool.
• Bullock cart, cattle shade, telephone facilities etc.
• Goat farm, Emu (Ostrich bird) farm, sericulture farm.
• Green house.
• Petting ,feeding animals.
• Activity hall for performing local dance/art form.
• Children play area.
• Aroma /healing gardens.
• Exploration of near by local attractions.
• Market /expo.
• Processing & packaging warehouse.
• Opportunity to participate in the rural games to the tourist.
• Provide information them about the culture, dress, arts,
crafts, festivals, rural traditions and also give possible
demonstration of some arts.
• Farmers should offer to see and participate in the
agricultural activities.
The Planning Process
Strategies for increasing participation from the agricultural
community
• Engage local farmers early in the planning process
• Hold focus groups and meetings at times and locations
convenient for farmers
• Establish an agricultural advisory committee
• Invite local farm organizations to participate in the planning
process
• Identify key farm leaders and encourage them to solicit
feedback from the agricultural community
• Advise farmers on how to participate most effectively in the
planning process
Strategies for how farmers can participate in the planning
process
• Contact the planning department to cultivate relationships
with the staff and evaluate the community’s plan
• Explain to local officials how the municipality or county
could better support agricultural enterprises
• Seek appointments to plan commissions, board of zoning
appeals or advisory committees
Zoning
While promoting agro tourism development, the community
must not lose sight of its balance between the legitimate public
health, safety and welfare concerns of local government.
The preservation of the rural character of the county and the
provision of opportunities for growing a sustainable tourism
industry in rural areas.
Zoning ordinances are the primary implementation tool of a
comprehensive plan and are a vital tool for maintaining this
balance. Zoning can support community goals by regulating land
use, intensity of use and development standards (i.e. parking,
screening and signage).
Key Strategy for Success of Agro-Tourism
Agro-Tourism is a one of the business activities. So, farmers
must have commercial mindset and some marketing
techniques for the success.
• Give a wide publicity of your tourism centre by newspapers,
television etc. Use all possible advertisement means.
• Develop contacts with the schools, colleges, NGOs, clubs,
unions, organizations etc.
• Train your staff or family members for reception and
hospitality of the agro tourists.
• Understand about the customers wants and their
expectations and serve them accordingly.
• Charge optimum rent and charges for the facilities/services
on the commercial base.
• Do the artificially use local resources for the
entertainment / service to tourists.
• Develop your website and update time to time for attract
foreign tourist.
• Take their feedback and comments about the service and
suggestions to more development and modification.
• Develop a good rapport with the tourist for future business
and chain publicity.
• Develop different agro-tour packages of for different type of
tourist and their expectations.
• Maintain an address book and comments of the visited
tourists for future tourism business and reference.
• Small farmers can develop their agro-tourism centers on the
basis of cooperative society.
Case Study: Agro tourism Center, Baramati
Agro tourism Destination: Malegaon Village, Taluka Baramati,
District Pune, Maharashtra, India.
This Agro Tourism destination belongs to “Agricultural
Development Trust Malegaon” (ATDC).
Connectivity
The Agro Tourism Unit in Malegaon is well connected by
Airways; Railways and Roadways. Nearest International Airport :
Pune Airport 102 kms. Nearest Railhead : Baramati 10 kms.
Roadways : Mumbai – Pune – Hadapsar – Saswad – Jejuri –
Morgaon – Karhawagaj Chowk – Malegaon Kurd – Agro Tourism
Destination; (Malegaon Sheti Farm) (ADTM) total distance: 95
kms. Driving time is approx: 2 hrs. The nearest bus stop is just 1
km from the farm and main bus station is just 5 kms at Baramati
Town wherein there is regular non-stop bus service to Pune
every after 30 min that reaches to pune in just 2 hrs.
In case very emergency event the Agro Tourism Development
Corporation will organize private transport facility (at extra cost)
Attractions
Agro Tourism activities include farm tours; tractor and bullock
cart rides; grapes, mangoes, and other horticulture farms and
by-product farms; birds and animal farms; There are lot of
things the visitors or guests can enjoy in this agro tourism
unit/farm. Total area under cultivation here is of 110 acres,
primarily use for agricultural purposes, out of which 65 acres is
used for Horticultural plantations and cultivation, consisting of
various seasonal fruits farms. The added attractions here are
the poultry farm; dairy farm; goat farm; and most visited point
silk processing unit.
The visitors here can also visit the gram panchayat village
office and school; village fairs and markets, nearby Jaggery
making unit; Emu bird Farm; Sugar factory; Taluka Milk
Collection Centers and some of the oldest religious temples
and also Museum.
Accommodation
The overnight stay arrangement is at the farm itself, there are 12
rooms and 1 big hall. The occupancy is quadruple sharing every
room having 4 single beds. One Room is allotted to each Family.
The accommodation facilities are basic but very hygienic neat
and clean. Two toilets (one western style)( and one bathroom
attached to block of every three rooms, this arrangement is
purposely kept to experience the joint family atmosphere. The
Solar Water heaters at the rooftop are fitted to provide the
running hot water for bathing in the morning. There is also the
facility of dormitory hall, wherein more than 250 people can
easily accommodate.
Outdoor Recreational Activities
The outdoor recreational activities for children and adults during
daytime are farm tours and agricultural education programs,
how to grow sugarcane, grapes, pomegranate, guava,
watermelon, other fruits and what are the food values of each
fruits, how to take care of the cattle, nature education programs,
domestic animals and emu bird farms visits and education of the
different trees, demonstrations such as goat and cow milking,
honey making, silk making, jaggery making, rural games that
they can play as gotya; bovhra; surparanbhya; vittidandu; Buffalo
ride; bullock cart ride; tractor rides; watching domestic animals;
clay molding; painting the nature scenery; tree climbing or
simply run with the cycle tree.
Entertainment Programs
The Evenings are generally fun filled, star gazing activity and
the rural Maharashtra folk dances and folk song programs is
organized. Bonfire/campfire during winter seasons, family
games, children games, and lots of fun filled programs.
Meals for Tourists
The food served is pure vegetarian Maharashtrian style, for
breakfast Poha, Upma, or Shira, for the lunch usually jawar or
bajra bhakri, chapattis, rice, varan, pickle, papad,kurdaya,
bhaji, thecha, wangeche bharit, jhunka/pitla, any fresh green
vegetable sabji, matki/ chawli usual shabji, etc.
Safety & Security Aspects
The Agro Tourism unit at Malegaon is very safe and secure for
all the guests and visitors, there is only one main entrance
gate, during daytime almost 400 people work in the farm, plus
the entire area of 110 acres is barbed wire fenced and over
and above there is adequate 24 hours security persons at the
main entrance gate and for the entire area.
Medical Facilities
This Agro Tourism unit is just 1 km from the Malegaon village.
Apart from the onsite medical doctor there are specialist
doctors available 24 hours on call.
Risk And Liability In Case Of Accidents
ATDC has examined the risks associated with some of the
activities of agro-tourism. For example: one may decide to ride
the bullock cart ride or tractor tailor ride which is not risk free,
since there is always a possibility that a guest will fall off the
bullock cart or the tractor tailor, however ATDC has established
rules and regulations that protects the guests from potential
risks. Sometimes accidents cannot be avoided during agro
tourism visits at the farms, However, ATDC makes sure that the
operations and the farm activity and the sightseeing tours at the
farm and outside the farms to sugar factory, jaggery making unit
is safe as possible and they have taken appropriate safety
precautions.
Facts of Agro tourism in Maharashtra
Agro tourism in Maharashtra has witnessed a tremendous
growth from its establishment. It has created a vast impact on
the lives of the farmers as well as rural community. The below
shown representations are the proof of the development.
Growth of ATC’s
120
101
100
80
71
No. of
60
40
20
10
2 2
0
1
Year
s
1991 to 1995 1995 to 2000 2000 to 2005
2005 to 2010 2010 to 2016
Graph 1:
The growth of the ATC’s in Maharashtra has tremendously
increased between the years 2005 -2016
Land size of Graph 2:
140 ATC's
123
120 An agro tourism doesn’t require
100 large area of land. It can be
80
started and operated in land of
No. of
0
60
40
1 to 10 10 to 2020 to 30 30 to 40
33
Above
40 minimum 5 Years.
Acres
20
25
5
The graph says, the land
0
holding size of the maximum
number of agro tourism
centers is between 1-10 acres.
Age groups of ATC farmers
100
90 87
80
70
68
60
50
40
30
No. of
20
10
25
0
15 to 30 yrs 30 to 40 yrs 45 to 60 yrs Above 60 yrs
Age groups
Graph 3:
Maximum number of agro tourism centers are operated by
farmers of age group between 30-60 years, who are
experienced in farming and with minimum education level.
Education levels of ATC operators
84
90
80
70
60
50
40 43
30
No. of
20 31
26
10
0
1 1
Illiterate Up to 7th Std 7th to 12 std Graduate Post Others
Graduate
Education levels
Graph 4:
Maximum number of agro tourism centers are operated by
educated farmers. This gives the scope to develop through
trainings and capacity building.
