Haryana To Introduce Farm Tourism

Naveen Sharma - Chandigarh

The trendsetter in highway tourism - Haryana - will shortly introduce the novel concept of 'Farm Tourism' in the state to enable domestic as well as foreign tourists to have a glimpse of rural life and agricultural practices. This is the first time a state government is launching such a concept.

Says Navraj Sandhu, managing director, Haryana Tourism Corporation, "The state tourism department would act as facilitator and promoter of package tours to farmhouses located near Delhi, while the owners of farm houses would provide boarding and lodging facilities to tourists. In this way, farmhouse owners would act as guide and host the tour. The aim is to generate tourism for agriculture. Thus, it would make people aware about what's on offer in rural areas."

Further Sandhu added that, "Recognising the immense potential of the concept of farm tourism, Haryana tourism has taken some concrete steps to launch the venture.”

Haryana, with its primarily agrarian society and its reputation as a progressive agricultural state, has drawn up concrete plans. Before launching the concept, a survey was conducted, wherein it was discovered that there were a number of farmhouses around Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Sonipat. These farms belonged to well-established people who could provide an educational experience of farm life, the local food, culture, and heritage.

After an initial survey, Haryana Tourism has identified about 10 farmhouses, where:

• The farmer/farmhouse owners will be both a host and guide. They would take tourists around the village, introduce them to various agriculture operations.
• They will provide tourists an exposure to the local community. For example, attending a Panchayat meeting, exposure to local songs, dances, art and craft.
• Tour of the village would include visiting local artisans like carpenters, black smiths etc.
• Experience a festive occasions such as marriage, Baisakhi or local melas.
• The tourists could also participate or witness village games such as wrestling, guli-danda, and kite flying.
• Local sports such as bullock rides or even the tractor ride.
• Savour the local cuisine and partake in the local costumes.

"The concept would take modern man back to nature. It would also bring about new job opportunities for the local youth, thereby exposing them to new traditions and encourage them to retain their traditional environments, handicrafts and culture while taking pride in the promotion of their new agriculture development schemes," Sandhu added. Further she mentioned that the scheme of farm tourism also expects to reinstate the charm of rural life styles and take tourists to their roots.

For the farmers, it will be an opportunity to show their achievements and to restore pride to agriculture and villagers. It is going to have multiplier effects on the rural economy.

As this concept is part of rural tourism, the state has urged the ministry of tourism, government of India to provide funds for this scheme. For the marketing of this concept, the initial investment would sum up to about Rs 13 lakh for publicity and advertising material. Package development and market promotion of Farm Tourism have initially been taken up by Haryana Tourism Department. The department has conceptualised suitable packages in consultation with FarmHouse owners. Rural tourism packages would include day/night packages. Another project aimed at promotion of rural tourism is being developed at the Rai Resort about eight kms from Kundli barrier on the National Highway leading to Delhi. The project, known as Ethnic Village, would have a village chaupal, a haveli gate, motifs of rural lifestyle and every luxury of a modern hotel.