In manifestoes, spell out agri-tourism policy for Punjab

Being predominantly an agrarian state, Punjab employs a 34.9% workforce in agriculture with around 23% contribution in the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Unfortunately, due to several reasons, it has become a most critical sector, resulting in economic distress and negative impact on natural resources such as receding groundwater table, water-logging, considerable damage to soil fertility that have become major problems leading to large-scale exodus of farmers from agriculture. To overcome problems like lack of adequate income, progenies of farmers are not willing to take up agriculture as a profession. It’s high time to set up an alternative source of income from the existing resources that farmers have. Debt waiver is a timebeing relief but agri-tourism as a policy can be seen as one of the secondary and sustainable sources of income for farmers.

Now when the Punjab assembly elections are nearing, political parties must come out with their action plan to harness the potential of agri-tourism. Their manifestoes need to outline the roadmap for training modules, promotional activities and incentives for an agriculturist-entrepreneur set-up on a functional farm for educational or recreational purpose of visitors.

The tourism sector, especially the hotel industry, has suffered the most during the Covid-19 pandemic, but agritourism picked up much more than the usual tourist circuits. Thus, there is an opportunity for agri-tourism in Punjab. With an increased preference for non-urban tourist spots, rural locations may become good weekend getaways. Study tours of agri-tourism practitioners could be conducted from one part of the state to another to share best practices and adopt them.

Tapping potential in Punjab

Punjab’s rich holy heritage sites need linkage with agri-tourism in the three cultural/geographical regions of Majha, Malwa, and Doaba. In Majha, Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar sees the maximum tourists, Sri

Muktsar and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib in Malwa, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Chamkaur Sahib in Doaba. All these three regions lie between the Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Ghaggar rivers. Farms all over Punjab exemplify simplicity, while the wetland of Hari-ke-pattan and wildlife sanctuaries like Harike and the Shivalik ranges are natural wonders that offer calmness and refreshment.

The rustic experience comes as a complete package as the traveller gets to ride bullock carts, horses and camels, milk cows, goats and buffaloes, sow, plough and harvest, bathe at a tubewell, climb trees and pluck fruits. They can watch the making of jaggery and enjoy traditional food, folk music and art shows.

Agri-tourism can fuel rural economies through the multiplier effect. Its benefits will be shared within the farmer community. Further development of agri-tourism leads to profit margins for farm products and services, particularly for small farms in crisis. Agri-tourism is a policy of employing local youngsters as guides and specifically contracts women for food preparation services through organised women’s self-help groups.

Scaling up rural tourism scheme

The Government of India has come up with a vision of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022-23. However, economic indicators do not show equitable and egalitarian growth in this. To supplement and enhance farmers’ incomes, agri-tourism can be implemented as a secondary sector. But policies, promotional activities and guidelines for this concept are still insufficient.

The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board initiated the farm tourism scheme in 2013 to promote farms for homestay but it is not more than some guidelines and did not scale up at large due to the lack of an agri-tourism policy having a holistic approach. Of the 13,006 villages, there are only 43 agri-tourism sites registered with the board and nine villages were selected for the rural tourism cluster scheme of the Government of India. These need to be explored more and developed as there is an imbalance in the distribution of these sites. Of the 43, 29 sites are in the periphery of Chandigarh such as Mohali, Ropar, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib. On the other hand, there are 11 districts, half of Punjab, that don’t have a single agri-tourism site.

Challenge for farmers

Though for the farmers, it is not only a brand new source of income but also much easier than planting and harvesting crops. The new income comes without the frustrations of irregular weather, volatile prices and fear of droughts, pests and plant disease, but there are some significant barriers due to the lack of familiarity with tourist expectations. The transition from traditional agriculture to agri-tourism is quite a challenge for farmers. One major issue is successfully creating the products and services that tourists want. An increase in disposable income tied with shortened working days leads to the demand for leisure activities, which greatly contributes to the success of agri-tourism.

New opportunities to boost economy

In all 148 blocks, the board should create tourism centres and involve the community by using panchayat funds to create lodging, food and safari for tourists. Upgrade the quality of village link roads to the main highway road level. Policy and subsidies directly targeting agri-tourism are important. Cultural/geographical regions based development policies and models are equally necessary for the sound utilisation of local resources and the creation of essential services to tourists in a specific region to increase agri-tourism income. Thus, farmers can turn their farmlands parallel into a tourist destination and open their doors to the tourists to share more about what they do. Simultaneously, they can gain income and their farm produce may also fetch better value. This innovative nature of agri-tourism can attract the next generation of farmers, offer new opportunities for women and youth development in the rural areas and boost Punjab’s rural economy.

AGRI-TOURISM CAN FUEL RURAL ECONOMIES THROUGH MULTIPLIER EFFECT. ITS BENEFITS WILL BE SHARED WITHIN FARMER COMMUNITY. AGRITOURISM LEADS TO PROFIT MARGINS FOR FARM PRODUCTS & SERVICES,