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Agricultural Tourism in India (Agri-Tourism India)

Poor agriculture commodity prices coupled with rising input costs are slowly but substantially eroding small farm incomes in India , Further forces such as globalization , industrialization, and development encroachment are threatening the agriculture .As a result, farmers are acquiring second job or leaving their farms altogether in order to sustain their household income.

In many regions across the globe , farmers are recognizing the need and desire to diversify their farm products and supplement their agriculture income, with an agriculture economy that has decreased to just 2% or remained stagnant for last 10 years ,farmers across India have tremendous opportunity to diversify their list of products and service offerings with agriculture tourism. Agri Tourism increases the potential for higher margins on farm sales of value added products and services.

Agri-tourism attracts urban tourists to rural villages for a form of relaxation that follows the growing trend of tourism that is both educational and recreational. It is another option for farmers wanting to diversify their farming operations that will help bring more economic activity to rural areas of India.

Travel and Tourism are big Business across India, In India 306 * million domestic leisure tourists (* Tourism report 2004) spend more money every year and support millions of jobs. This article / report will also help Management Graduates, banker and financial institutes, and other stake holders in Agriculture Sector.


For India as whole the landscape, much of the infrastructure, and the resources are already in place, to take advantage of the opportunities, farmers will have to carefully research and assess their situation with regards to location, marketing, human resources and facilities before developing an in-depth business plan for Agri Tourism activity. India consists of more than 6 lakh villages; most of the villages in most of the taluka places and surrounding rural areas have been attracting the tourists for short breaks for more than three decades. Visitors are attracted to these places because of its rural landscape, which has been defined by its agriculture resources. Indian domestic tourism activity and agriculture are, therefore, linked in an inseparable bond.

Agri Tourism is a new concept in the already saturated market of conventional, heritage, eco, medical, religious tourism. India is well known in the international tourism market for its scenic beauty, locale, friendly people, and this concept which is being introduced for the first time in the Baramati, district of Pune got immense response in term of tourist visiting the Agri tourism baramati project, within three years of operations it has received more than 20000 tourists, from across India and also from all over the world, further it has a massive scope for success.

The concept of Agritourism is a mixture of integrating agriculture along with pleasure, thus putting across an option of an Agritourism. Tourists from the urban areas can come and spend their weekends or holidays in a village cum agricultural atmosphere at a very nominal cost. It is the home away from home and with giving a personal feels and that too in harmony with culture, language and ethics.

Definition: Agri Tourism: “The act of visiting an agriculture farm, or any agriculture, horticulture, or agribusiness operation for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or active involvement in the activities of the farm or operation” is the economic activity that occurs when agricultural products or services are provided to the traveling public. However Agri Tourism can be viewed much like eco tourism as small scale, low impact and in most cases education focused and more over small landowners operate majority of farms in India , opportunities for uniqueness and customization are limitless.

The Agri-tourism sector includes

Farm oriented retail opportunities,
Farm based Accommodations, Meals, Farm Tours, Harvest Festivals, Rural Art and Rural Festivals, farm vacations, observing or voluntary participating in farming activities, Agricultural events, where tourists interact directly with the farm family and their employees. These services can be tailored to specific seasons in order to complement farmer income

With increasing expenses in agriculture input costs and lesser and tighter returns, farmers are seeking new ways to generate and diversify and add value to their agriculture income. They need to be able to better utilize their human and capital resource base to be more competitive and profitable. Consequently, there is growing interest in Agri-tourism.

It not only can help increase farmers income, but also can promote and serve as a sales outlet for both raw and value added agricultural products. The entire agriculture industry also benefits by enhancing agriculture awareness.

Agri-tourism already exists, to a significant extent, in Pune District. Some
examples of these businesses include, Junnar Agri Touirsm and Agri Tourism Baramati, there farm based bed and breakfasts, fruit stall also road side markets, a winery, jaggery making unit, tractor and bullock cart rides, horseback riding and farm museums, sugar factory, silk processing units, dairy farm, goat farm, etc Some businesses (self helf womens groups) have linked with other attractions to package their services as part of a coordinated marketing program.


This model provides a general overview of the opportunities that exist and some specific examples of farm based accommodations.

Where does tourism fit into my farm plan?
Supplementary, complimentary and primary enterprises
A supplementary enterprise: As a supplementary enterprise, Agri tourism could be a minor activity that support the other products on your farm, For e.g. if your primary enterprise if livestock/ poultry production, you may decide to invite school groups to your farm several days a month to learn about your animals/birds, and your occupation. Like this occasionally hosting guests on your farm would make agri tourism a supplementary enterprise to your primary enterprise as long as agri tourism activities were a minor part of your farm product mix.

A Complimentary Enterprise: As a complimentary enterprise, agri tourism activities would share equal footing with other enterprises in your farm product mix, For example: you may have pomegranate farm, if you were to sell half of your pomegranates to a wholesaler and remainder to “pick –your – own” guests on your farm, then the two enterprises (the wholesale market and direct market) would complimentary enterprises.

A Primary Enterprise : as a primary enterprise , agri tourism would be the dominant activity on your farm, for instance , you may decide o open a winery on your farm and invite guests to spend the day or the weekend tasting wine, as a part of wine tasting package , you may include overnight lodging in a cottage on your farm,. You may produce grape for the wine on your farm, to supplement your wine tasting activities, however because agri tourism is the main part of your farm product mix, it becomes your primary enterprise.

Therefore it is important for a farmer to realize that agri tourism has the potential to become whatever you want it to be on your farm. Whether you use agri tourism as supplementary, complimentary, or primary, you must ready to think creatively and plan effectively in order to make it successful.

Starting an Agri-Tourism Business: Pros and Cons
For farmer in rural taluka of Pune District who is trying to diversify his agriculture income source, Agri-tourism offers an alternative that allows a large financial range for capital outlay, depending on how much the farmer wants to invest. But under what circumstances does a tourism based business make sense for a specific farmer?

Agri Tourism Advantages
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