ATDC eyes Rs 4,300 crore agriculture tourism pie

The Agri Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) is keen on tapping the Rs 4,300-crore agri tourism industry by expanding its reach across India, starting with Maharashtra.

ATDC last year had launched a pilot project at Malegoan spread over 100 acres, which had over 7,000 tourists, resulting in a 25 per cent increase in the annual income of farmers.

ATDC will now replicate the Malegoan model with 25 projects across Maharashtra and is also exploring the possibilities of similar experiments in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.

Besides, the corporation has also roped in Bank of India and Syndicate Bank for financing of the projects.

"By April 2007, we will be ready to start the tours and build the capacities required in Maharashtra," said Pandurang Taware, director (sales and marketing), ATDC, the nodal agency helping farmers market their farms and also providing training to them for starting agri tourism units on a 20-22 percent revenue-sharing basis.

The Malegoan unit comes under the Agriculture Development Trust and will be used as a base platform for training and experimentation by ATDC.

Farmers can find an additional source of income from agriculture, considering the fact that over 70 per cent of the urban population has grown up without seeing a village.

"Agri tourism is a Rs 4,300-crore industry and is an effective means of creating employment opportunities. For every job created, there are 11 indirect jobs," said Rajendra Pawar, chairman and managing director, Agriculture Development Trust.

ATDC has upcoming projects in Rihe village near Hinjewadi, Junnar, Sangamner, Rajgurunagar and is also asking farmers, trusts or villages to submit information like their historical background, proximity to any scenic places like temples, forts, dams, etc. On the basis of this information, ATDC will prepare a feasibility report.

The feasibility report will act as the base document for sanctioning of loans from banks. "We will also be the guarantors for the project," said Taware, adding that projects require minimum finances for providing accommodation for one person per acre and toilets.

The Malegoan Agri Unit saw farmers continue with their normal farming activities from Monday to Friday and conduct agri tours as an additional business activity on the weekends - Friday to Sunday.

The farmers also provided the guests with food and entertainment programmes besides giving them an opportunity to participate in the farming activities.