Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) PEER REVIEW IMPACT FACTOR ISSN VOL- VII ISSUE- III MARCH 2020 e-JOURNAL 6.293 2349-638x

Development of Agro-Tourism in Rural : Challenges and Disturbances

A. G. Nimase Assistant Professor Departrment of Geogrphy Chhatrapati Shivaji College, Satara.

Abstract Today the concept of traditional tourism has been changed into Agro-Tourism. The paper describes a system dynamics model developed for dynamic analysis of agro-tourism for the agricultural sector in different sources of employment and their potential and problems. Tourism is a socio-economic phenomenon which has become the world largest and fastest growing industry. It is one of the most significant social force in the world. Almost every on the earth is affected by tourism. Agro –tourism is increasingly recognized as an important strategy that can contribute to agricultural development through diversification of farming activities and providing opportunities to rest, relax, enjoy and study bout farming for the visitors. Promotion of tourism would bring many direct and indirect benefits to the people. But, there are some problems in the process of the development of such centres. Hence, the government in the Maharashtra for the rural development and increase income these of the farers. The farmers should also try to establish their co-operative society for the development of agro-tourism centres. Agro-tourism is business conducted by farmers for the enjoyment or education of the public, to promote the products of the farm the enjoyment or education of the public, to promote the products of the farm and to generate additional farm income. Maharashtra has super potential for development of agro-tourism centres. Key Words: Employment, income, Potential, Agro-Tourism,

Introduction and there is large scope and great potential to develop agro-tourism. Geography is fundamental to the study of tourism, Objectives The Specific objectives of this research paper is because tourism is geographical in nature. Several following countries have transformed their economies by 1. To examine the importance of agro-tourism developing their tourism potential. Tourism has great development in Rural Maharashtra. capacity to generate large scale employment and 2. To detect the problems of agro-tourism and additional income sources to the skilled and suggest recommendations for to establishment unskilled. Tourism is now well recognized as an of agro-tourism. engine of growth in the various economies in the Importance of the Study world. Agriculture is a most important occupation Agro-tourism is the practice of attracting in the India including in the Maharashtra. But, today travelers or visitors to an area or areas used primary it has becomes unprofitable due the irregular for agricultural purposes. Today the concept of monsoon, prices fluctuations of Agro-products and traditional tourism has been changed. Some new some internal weakness of the agriculture sector. areas of the tourism have been emerged like Agro- Hence, there is need to do some innovative activities Tourism. Promotion of tourism would bring many in the agriculture, which will help to farmers, rural direct and indirect benefits to the people. Agro- peoples. Urban population is increasing day by day tourism is an innovative agricultural activity related in the Maharashtra, today the urban people‟s world is to tourism and agriculture both. It has a great restricted in the closed door flats, offices, clubs, capacity to create additional source of income and television, video games, spicy fast food, computer, employment opportunities to the farmers. internet, and so on. They can see nature only on Maharashtra is one of the major tourist centers in the Email id’s:- [email protected],[email protected] I Mob.08999250451 Page No. website :- www.aiirjournal.com 1

Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) PEER REVIEW IMPACT FACTOR ISSN VOL- VII ISSUE- III MARCH 2020 e-JOURNAL 6.293 2349-638x television or screen of the computers. More over Eco-Tourism and Agro-Tourism are closely some people living in the cities do not have relatives related to each other. Eco-Tourism provides by the in villages and they never visited or stayed in village. tour companies but, in the agro-tourism farmers offer These peoples want enjoy rural life but there is tours to their agriculture farm and providing problem of such type of facilities. Hence, it is entertainment, education and fun-filled experiences opportunity to the farmers for development of the for the urban peoples. Moreover, this activity brings agro-tourism centres and serves him and creates visitors closer to nature and rural activities in which additional income source. they can participate, be entertained and feel the Database and Methodology pleasure. Agro-tourism is a way of sustainable tourist The study is based on secondary data. The development and multi-activity in rural areas through scope of the study is limited to examine the benefits which the visitor has the opportunity to get aware and applicability of agro-tourism business in with agricultural areas, agricultural occupations, Maharashtra. The study includes their benefits and local products, traditional food and the daily life of problems. As well as it includes appropriate the rural people, as well as the cultural elements and framework regarding to establish the agro-tourism traditions. centres in the Maharashtra. The present study was Requirements of Agro-Tourism Centres conducted on the agro-tourism is based on secondary It is an essential activity to develop an agro- data. The data has been furnished from the related tourism in their farm. The farmer farmers must have articles, research papers, different journals document basic infrastructure and facilities in their farm as of the government of India. Some data has furnished follows: from the websites of the government of India and Maharashtra, as well as ministry of agriculture. Some Infrastructure ideas have been taken from the Tourism  A well or lake or swimming tank for fishing, Development Corporation of Maharashtra. swimming and accommodation facilities at Concept of Agro-Tourism same place or alliance with nearest hotels. Agro-tourism is a commercial enterprise that  Farmhouse, which has the rural look and feel combines agriculture and tourism on a working farm, comfortable along with all minimum rich or other agribusiness operation. A term „Agro- required facilities. Tourism‟ is a new face of tourism. An agro-tourism  Rich resources in agriculture namely water is farm based business that is open to the public. and plants at the place. These specialized agro-tourism destinations  Cooking equipments for cooking food, if generally offer things to see, things to do, and tourist have interested. produce or gifts to buy, and are open to the public.  Emergency medical care‟s with first aid box. Agro-tourism is defined as “Travel that combines  Bullock cart, cattle shade, telephone facilities agricultural or rural settings with products of etc. agricultural operations–all within a tourism Who Can Start Agro-Tourism Centres experience”. According to Mr. Pandurang Tavare The individual farmer, agricultural co- (ATDC, Pune) “Agro Tourism is that Agri-Business operatives institute, Non-Government organizations, activity, when a native farmers or person of the area Agricultural Universities, and agricultural colleges offers tours to their agriculture economic voices farm may start their centres. Even Grampanchayats can to allow a person to view them growing, harvesting, start such centres in their operational areas with the and processing locally grown foods, such as help of villagers and farmers. The individual farmer coconuts, pineapple, sugar cane, corn, or any can also start agro-tourism who have minimum two agriculture produce the person would not encounter hector land, farm house, and water resource and is in their city or home country. Often the farmers interested to entertain the tourists. would provide a home-stay opportunity and Facilities Should Provide education”. • Offer an opportunity to part icipate in the rural games to the tourist

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Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) PEER REVIEW IMPACT FACTOR ISSN VOL- VII ISSUE- III MARCH 2020 e-JOURNAL 6.293 2349-638x

• Provide information them about the culture, for a new generation is appearing on the more dress, arts, crafts, festivals, rural traditions intensive manner. The benefits of agro-tourism and also give possible demonstration of development are manifold. It would bring many some arts. direct and indirect benefits to the farmers and rural • Offer bullock cart for riding and horse riding, people. Some of the benefits are following: buffalo ride in the Water, fishing facility in  Benefits to the urban peoples, they can your pounds or nearest lake. understand about the rural life and know • Offer authentic rural Indian / Maharashtra about the agricultural activities. food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  It support for rural and agricultural • Farmers should offer to see and participate in development process. the agricultural activities.  Help to the reduce burden on the other • Offer fruits, corns, groundnuts, sugarcane and traditional tourist centres. other agro-products as per availability.  Employment opportunities to the farmers • Show local birds, animals and waterfalls etc including farm family members and youth. and give authentic information about them.  Additional income source for the farmers to • Must provide safety to tourists‟ with the protest against income fluctuation. support of alliance hospitals.  Cultural transformation between urban and • Arrange folk dance programme, She kotifolk rural peoples including social moral values. songs bhajan, kirtana, lezim dance, dhangari  Farmers can improve their standard of living gaja,etc. due to the contacts with urban peoples. • Available some agro-product to purchase to

the tourist Agro-Tourism Potential in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has diversified agro-centres Location for the Agro-Tourism Centre because it is the result of climatic diversifications The place of agro-tourism centre must need .Maharashtra is the third largest state of India, both easy accessible by roads and railways. Location is in area and population. It is located on the west coast most important factor for success in the agro- of India with a 720 km long coastline along the green tourism. The location of the centre must easy to Konkan region. Nestled in the Western Ghats and the arrive and have a good natural background. Urban Sahyadri mountain range are several hill stations and tourists are interested into enjoying the nature and water reservoirs with semi-evergreen and deciduous rural life. So, farmers should develop their centre in forests. Although, Maharashtra has a total 22368 the rural areas only which have a beautiful natural thousand hacter area under the agriculture and 36122 background to attract urban tourist in your farm. thosaunds of livestock (cow, baffelows, goats etc.). Tourists want to enjoy some historical and natural Principal crops include rice, Jowar, Bajra, wheat, tourist places along with the agro-tourism. Hence, pulses, turmeric, onions, cotton, sugarcane and the centre should be developed near of these tourist several oil seeds including groundnut, sunflower and places. It is more beneficial to both tourist and soyabean. The state has huge areas, under fruit farmers. The places which are already tourist centres cultivation of which mangoes, bananas, grapes, and like Mahbaleswara, Panchgani, Nashik, Jotiba, oranges etc. Maharashtra is blessed with a rich and Narshinghvadi, , Akkalkot, Konkan etc. diversified cultural heritage. There are many tourist These are the better places for the development of centres in Maharashtra which are the supporting agro-tourism. Other than these places farmer can natural environment for the agro-tourism centres in develop their centres in any affordable places. Maharashtra. The state has several communities Benefits of Agro-Tourism Centres belonging to different religions, and a number of Agro-Tourism has the potential to change the festivities colours the culture of Maharashtra with the economic face of traditional agriculture. Agro- spirit of exuberance. Some of the popular festivals Tourism is diversifying the farm and adding value to that are celebrated in Maharashtra are Diwali, produce already produced on farms. Agro-tourism Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudhi Padwa, Dasara, Nag

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Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) PEER REVIEW IMPACT FACTOR ISSN VOL- VII ISSUE- III MARCH 2020 e-JOURNAL 6.293 2349-638x

Panchami, Gokul Ashtmi, Narali Pournima, Pola, Role of ATDC Makar Sankranti, Banganga Festival and Holi etc. ATDC stand for agriculture tourism More than 4.11 (43 percent of total) core populations Development Corporation –is promoting to is living the urban areas of the Maharashtra, which agriculture tourism for achieving income, will can becomes a customers‟ of the agro-tourist employment and economic stability in rural areas. centres are located in the rural areas. Other than Help boosting a range of activities, services and nature and culture there is an enough road and rail amenities, provided by farmers and rural people to connectivity in urban rural areas to travel in rural attract urban tourists to their area thus providing Maharashtra. Maharashtra abounds in numerous opportunity to urban people to get back to the rural tourist attractions ranging from ancient cave temples, roots”. ATDC is now providing following facilities unspoiled beaches, ancient forts and monuments, to the farmers of Maharashtra; forests and wildlife, unique hill stations, pilgrimage,  Conduct seminars and conferences on agro centres, and a rich tradition of festivals, art and tourism business Conduct lectures of the culture. About 25 more such locations have been successful National and International identified in Maharashtra as rural agro-tourist Farmers in agro tourism business. destinations. Thus all the districts of Maharashtra  Provide sales and marketing support. have a tourism potential. Some following notable  Arrange National as well as International factors are helpful to the agro-tourism in Agro Tourism Center study tours. Maharashtra.  Prepare Agro Tourism project report and  There are an increasing number of tourists business plan of the each applicant preferring non-urban tourist spots agriculture farm.  Maharashtra has diverse Agro-climatic  Help facilitate the financial support from conditions, diverse crops, people, deserts, Nationalize Banks, Institutes and mountains, which provide scope for Government Agencies to built Agro and promotion of all season, multi-location agro- Rural Tourism facilities and infrastructure tourism. like accommodation, sanitation, approach  Some of the popular folk dances in rural road etc. Maharashtra are Lavni, Dhangari Gaja,  Conduct Agro Tourism Business Training Povadas, Koli dance and Tamasha and Dindi Program. are the religious folk dances. Culture of  Conduct and coordinate tours from urban Maharashtra is very glorious with a great areas to the farms. variety. It gives a unique identity to the rural Maharashtra. Problems of the Agro-Tourism in Maharashtra  Tourist places are already exist to support In last fifteen years of 20th centaury the term Agro-Tourism agro-tourism appeared in international literature.  Green house cultivation of long stem cut Agro-Tourism is a style of vocation that is normally flowers, vegetables, fruits etc. spent on farms. It is also referred as „Entertainment State has 13 lakh hact. area under Farming‟. Today in the Maharashtra has a greater horticulture Maharashtra now is a major potential of thedevelopment of the agro-tourism horticulture state. centres due to the good natural and climatic  Maharashtra is already established as one of conditions. But there are some Constraints and the top tourist destination in the world disturbances in the process of agro-tourism  Maharashtra has major producer of fruit, development in the state. Major challenges and spices, medicinal and aromatic plant allowed problems are follows; under horticulture in India.  Lake of perfect knowledge about the agro-  Good communication and transport facilities tourism  Weak communication skill and lake of commercial approach of the small farmers Email id’s:- [email protected],[email protected] I Mob.08999250451 Page No. website :- www.aiirjournal.com 4

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 Ignorance of the farmers regarding to the type Conclusion of activities Maharashtra is not the bustle of industrial  Presence of unorganized sector in the Agro- and agricultural activity or the frenzied pursuit of Tourism industry. wealth and progress alone. It is very much a part of  Ensuring hygiene and basic requirements the everyday scene anywhere in the state, signs of its considering urban visitors great religious, cultural, historical and martial  148 of the 355 Taluka in the state are heritage. Maharashtra has a great potential to the consistently drought prone. development of agro-tourism, because of natural  Lakhs of farmers have small size holding, low conditions and different types of agro products as quality land and little or no access to credit or well as variety of rural traditions, festivals. More irrigation. Have to negotiate with consistent than 45 percent of population is live in the urban drought. areas and they want enjoy rural life and to know about the rural life. It is a good opportunity to  Lake of capital to develop basic infrastructure develop an agro-tourism business in Maharashtra. for the agro-tourism. But there is a problem of low awareness about this

business in the farmer and problem of the finance Some Techniques for Success in Agro-Tourism and proper view in the farmers of the Maharashtra. For the better success in the agro-tourism we should Hence, the agriculture departments of the districts‟, follow the following things; Agriculture Universities should try to give  Develop our website and update time to time orientation about it and provide some innovative for attract foreign tourist ideas regarding to the Agro-Tourism. Bank should  Take their feedback and comments about the provide optimum financial help for the agro-tourism service and suggestions to more development activities in the Maharashtra. Union of the agro- and modification. tourism service providers is also another need of  Develop a good relationship with the tourist these farmers which helps to the agricultural tourism for future business and chain publicity. network in the India including Maharashtra. The  Develop different agro-tour packages of for government should try to provide optimum financial different type of tourist and their aids to the agro-tourism activities in the Maharashtra expectations. by the grants and institutional finance.  Preserve address book and comments of the visited tourists for future tourism business References:  Behave sincerely with the tourists and 1. Berry B. J. L. (1967): “Geography of Market participate with them/him. Centres and Retail Distribution”, Printic-  Small farmers can develop their agro-\ tourism Hall, pp. 131-139. centres on the basis of cooperative society. 2. Dev, Mahendra S. (1996), Agricultural  Give a wide publicity of your tourism centre Policy Framework for Maharashtra: Issues by new papers, television etc Use all possible and Options, Proceeding/Project Report No. advertisement means. 21, July 1996, Indira Gandhi Institute of  Develop contacts with the schools, colleges, Development Research, . NGOs, clubs, unions, organizations etc. 3. November 2004  Train your staff or family members for 4. Pandurang Taware, Director –Marketing reception and hospitality. A.T.D.C., Pune, Agri –Tourism: Innovative  Understand about the customer‟s wants and Supplementary Income Generating Activity their expectations and serve. for Enterprising Farmers  Charge optimum rent and charges for the 5. Maharashtra Krsihi Prayatan (Agri Tourism) facilities/services on the commercial base. Vistar Yogana 2010  Do the artificially use local resources for the 6. Nimase, D. A. G., & Mane, D. R. S. (n.d.). entertain/ serve to tourist. FORECASTING IN CULTIVATED

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Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) PEER REVIEW IMPACT FACTOR ISSN VOL- VII ISSUE- III MARCH 2020 e-JOURNAL 6.293 2349-638x

LANDUSE IN TAHSIL OF Irrigationin Micro Area in District. (MS). 8(4), 3. 9. Nimase, A. G., & TN, D. L. Cropping 7. Nimase, A. G., & TN, D. L. Cropping pattern and agricultural landuse in Mohol pattern and agricultural landuse in Mohol tahsil of solapur district (ms) Indian Journal tahsil of solapur district (ms) Indian Journal of Applied Research, Vol: 3| issue: 11| Nov of Applied Research, Vol: 3| issue: 11| Nov 2013| ISSN-2249-555x, Publisher Dr. A. 2013| ISSN-2249-555x, Publisher Dr. A. Kumar, pp-235-237. Kumar, pp-235-237. 8. Nimase, M. A. Ratio of Agriculture in Drought Prone Area And Indexing of

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