Authors: D. Karthik and Palve Gajanand
Research Scholars
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
Email id: karthik.dharamkar@gmail.com
Indian agriculture is passing through difficult times due to two consecutive drought situations in several parts of the country, thereby resulting into wide spread distress among farmers. The rural areas in these parts are facing food and livelihood crisis, more specifically the shortage of fodder and drinking water. Government needs to proactively address the situation and make more long term farmers centric policies related to irrigation, farm diversification, farm profitability and community support programs so as to socially and economically empower farmers. Since agriculture is the main occupation of the people in India there is a need to think of allied income generation strategies with agriculture, one of which is agri-tourism (Chada and Bhakare 2012). Agri-tourism is increasingly recognized as a means of enterprise diversification for agricultural producers, especially for its ability to increase cash flows to farm and ranch operations and in addition to their surrounding communities. Agritourism can contribute to the overall income, cash flow and profitability of a farm by providing alternative income via farm products, and farming activities (Colton and Bissix, 2005). Presently, the urban population has been going for agro-tourism as a way of relief from the daily routine of big cities. For this reason, it is one of the most dynamic emerging markets in our country.
Size: 380KB
About Author / Additional Info: