Gujarat plans to have centre of excellence for agri tourism

After promoting heritage tourism, medical tourism, religious tourism and adventure tourism, Gujarat is planning to promote agriculture tourism in the state.

To create awareness and train farmers, the state has planned to set up a Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Tourism.

The centre will be developed by Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agriculture University. The centre will be set up at Sardarkrushinagar in Dantiwada of Banaskantha district.

The Centre of Excellence for Agriculture Tourism is part of the 14 centres of excellence planned by the Dantiwada Agriculture University. The centre will aim to promote the new concept of agriculture tourism, spread awareness and train students as well as farmers to develop agri tourism spots.

R C Maheshwari, Vice-Chancellor of Dantiwada Agricultuire University, told Business Standard, "We have planned to set up a centre of excellence for agriculture tourism at Sardarkrushinagar in Dantiwada along with other 13 centres. There is a substantial business potential in agri-tourism as we have noticed an increasing curiosity in urban population towards rural settings. The farmers can facilitate lodging and boarding of these urban tourists at their farms and the tourists can have a first hand experience of rural life."

"Agricultural tourism can click as it takes urban tourists back to a culture that was pure and close to nature. The rural lifestyle still retains its closeness and connection with nature. While the urban lifestyle has lost that touch. The urban population, especially the young generation, does not know anything about where the food they eat come from or how is it grown."

"Agriculture tourism can provide them such an opportunity to city dwellers and it can also provide farmers extra income. All they have to do is set up a few rooms in their farms," Maheshwari said, and added, "Farmers can supplement their income by offering overnight accommodation, farm visits, nature walks, organic and traditional food as well as other activities to the public."

"Agriculture tourism is growing fast in the US. Neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Goa are going ahead with the concept of agri-tourism and are getting good response. So why not Gujarat? We have a rich rural culture which can be exploited as a business opportunity," said Maheshwari.

He, however, did not specify a time frame for the completion of the centre saying that it is still in the planning stage. Maheshwari informed that the Dantiwada Agriculture University already offers a project to its students known as 'Rural Agriculture Work Experience'.

In this project, students actually spend six months in villages with farmers and learn their problems and lifestyle.

The other 13 centres of excellence planned by the university include Centre for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Centre for Dairy and Food Technology, Centre for Moisture Conservation and Micro-Irrigation Desertification, Centre for Floriculture, Centre for Mushroom Cultivation, Centre for Durum Cultivation and Export, Centre for Modernisation of Seed Spices Industries, Centre for Modernisation of Isabgul Industries and Centre for Modernisation of Pulse Industries among others.

Of these 14 centres of excellence, two will be set up with support from the Gujarat Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, nine centres with other state and central departments, while the remaining three will be set up in public-private partnership mode.