AgroTourism-Odisha

Development of Agrotourism business model – Farmer’s welfare

2019-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Development of Agrotourism business model – Farmer’s welfare:

Tourism development in a state is generally directed as a key sector to promote economic growth, increased local revenues, empowering the community's economy, intensifying employment and business opportunities and enhancing new product introduction and marketing in order to improve the welfare of the community or society. The development of tourist areas must be fully planned developments that optimum benefits can be obtained for the community. The model canvas supports development along with more comprehensive and integrated communication, a business model that also supports creative and innovation toward a more sustainable business model.

The objectives are expected in the business development of the tourism sector in addition to the creation of new business models that will form a clear business Eco-system and provide expected results, can also formulate business strategies on the tourism sector based on the analysis that has been done.

Agrotourism or agricultural tourism is defined as a series of travel activities that take advantage of location or agricultural sector from the beginning of production to agricultural product share obtained in various systems and scales with the aim of broadening knowledge, understanding, experience and recreation in agriculture. Development of agrotourism activities directly and indirectly will increase the positive perception of farmers and the community about the importance of conservation of agricultural land resources. In addition, agrotourism can conserve resources, preserve local wisdom and technology, and increase the income of farmers or communities around agrotourism. The development of agrotourism will create jobs and increase income and improve the welfare of farmers.

Some of the positive impacts of agrotourism development include increasing the selling value of agricultural commodities produced and development of other sources of income that can be enjoyed by local people such as homestay rentals and other recreational facilities such as canteens, souvenir sales, and others. In addition, agro tourism is one of the effective mode in the promotion of agricultural products and culture of the locality. The development of tourist village based on agrotourism is a very important thing especially for areas that have agrotourism potential.

The problems of developing agrotourism sector in Village are: 1) Lack of understanding and citizen participation on agrotourism potential; 2) The potential of tourist attractions has not been properly managed; 3) The role of agrotourism in local economic development has not been maximized; 4) Ineffectiveness of local community-based tourism institutions; 5) Lack of capacity and accessibility of infrastructure in supporting agrotourism

From the above problems demanded agrotourism sector in Village as one of the tourism villages initiated by the local government agencies up to the village administration to be able to read the existing opportunities and able to read market conditions and can provide new innovations in business development so that the agrotourism sector can be still known as a tourist attraction that provides tourism morale for consumers as well as other stakeholders. And the absence of written regional and business development strategies from agrotourism make the agrotourism sector for now is still not known by many people. Therefore, the agrotourism sector in Village must develop a new, systematic and sustainable business innovation.

It can be concluded that the new business model can be created by considering the environmental and social aspects in addition to the economic aspects that already exist in the business model canvas. Agrotourism is a series of tourism activities that utilize the potential of agriculture as a tourist attraction, both the potential of natural landscape of agricultural areas and the peculiarities and diversity of production activities, and agricultural technology and culture of agricultural communities.

Agro-Eco-Tourism: No Limit for Agriculture

2019-06-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Agro-Eco-Tourism: No Limit for Agriculture

Agro-eco-tourism offers an plenty of opportunity to green economy transition through investments leading to energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, biodiversity and ageold cultural and heritage, age-old traditions conservation, and the corroboration of linkages with local communities. It experiences the real enchanting and close contact with the rural life, taste the local genuine food and get familiar with the various farming tasks. It also provides to relax and revitalize in the pure natural surroundings, surrounded by splendid. Agri-tourism would also provide tourists with an opportunity to be close to where the 75% of Indians live. Real India, as we know, resides in the villages. A concept, agri-eco-tourism entails visiting a working 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.

In the Indian tourism industry, Agro-eco-tourism is the latest idea which normally occurs on Agro farms. It associations with farming sector, tourism industry and farm business. It is indeed, the economic activity that occurs when people link travel with agricultural farm and products, services or experiences to cater to the needs of mutual demands directly. The concept is to tap the immense market of inland urban tourists who want to take a break from a mechanical life and enjoy the peace and serenity of rural life in its natural abundance.

Some agritourism and value-added processing enterprises can be launched with very little money while others will require significant financial support. The main challenge for agritourism operators is accessing funds provided by financial institutions. The challenge exists because:

1. There is a lack of farmer awareness of how to approach financial institutions.

2. There are problems obtaining the necessary "equity” position to acquire funding.

3. Financial institutions have limited awareness of the value and benefits of the agritourism.

4. Related value-added processing and are often reluctant to support funding in these sectors.

5. Within the farming community, there is some intimidation about applying to financial institutions for agritourism funding.

Hurdles in business are as there are no fix norms as in some other state of India for agro tourism due to which some people without having proper infra structure practicing agro-eco tourism centre spoils the reputation of agro-eco tourism. Availability of labour and marketing of farm produce is also one of the problems of entrepreneurs. As maximum farm are located in villages the lack of facilities like health, transport, proper publicity to agrotourism also affect the growth of business. Natural calamities also sometimes affect the farms making loss to the centres. Assistance from the Government is the need of hour to grow in this sector.

Agro-eco-tourism is the new value added agricultural business, for improving the incomes and potential economic viability of small farms and rural communities. Agri-tourism can take many forms like roadside stands or on farm direct sales, which can offer farm-fresh produce to travelers as well as interaction with growers.

Social skills and a scenic, clean, attractive farm are crucial for success in agritourism and can make the farms more ideal location for tourists. Agro-eco-tourism would secure a multifunctional, sustainable and competitive agriculture, maintain the landscape and the countryside, contribute to the vitality of rural communities, respond to consumer concerns and demands regarding food quality and safety, environmental protection, animal welfare, etc.

Urban People are more interested in how their food is produced and want to meet the producers and talk with them about what goes into food production. Children who visit the farms often have not seen a live duck, or pig, and have not picked a mango right off the tree.

As an enterprise, agri-tourism could be a minor activity that would support the other products on your farm. For instance, if your primary enterprise is livestock production, you may decide to invite school groups to your farm several days a month to learn about your animals and your occupation. Occasionally hosting guests on your farm would make agri-tourism a supplementary enterprise to your primary enterprise as long as the agri-tourism activities were a minor part of your farm product mix.

FOCUS AREAS FOR AGRI-TECH STARTUPS: Technology Friendly AgroTourism

2019-03-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

FOCUS AREAS FOR AGRI-TECH STARTUPS: Technology Friendly AgroTourism

1. FARMING-AS-A-SERVICE (FAAS): Agri equipment renting is another area likely to see market traction. As longer gestation periods are a typical feature for this sector and modern equipment is expensive and unaffordable for the average farmer, renting can take the burden of the input costs away from the farmer.

Eg.: EM3, Goldfarm, Farmart etc Agriservices offers farming services and machinery rentals to farmers on

2. BIG DATA: going forward, development of farm specific, data-driven diagnostics to determine soil and crop health will be a big opportunity area. Startups are based on drones or tractor-based solutions to get data on field, pertaining to both weather and agricultural data to determine risk. Growing smartphone penetration will enable precision decision-making in farming activity to farmers and help drive increased productivity and revenue while reducing unit-costs. Eg.: Agrostar, RML Agtech are are some frontline start-ups in this line.

3. MARKET LINKAGE MODELS: Innovations to help farmers with timely and accurate estimation of sowing and harvesting in sync with consumer demand patterns. Eg.: MeraKisan.com helps consumers in India to order fresh food and goods sourced from local farmers.

4. FINTECH FOR FARMERS: Farm income is mostly in cash and it presents an opportunity for Fintech startups to digitize payments for farmers through payment gateways linked to their accounts. Such startups can also create the credit profile environment for funders and lenders.

5. IOT FOR FARMERS:our next generation Smart farming in agricultural business including concepts like high-precision crop control, data collection, automated farming techniques which will remove inefficiencies and bolster productivity. Information on crop yields, rainfall patterns, pest infestation and soil nutrition can be used to improve farming techniques over time. Eg.: Stellapps leverages cloud computing, data analytics and wearables to improve agri-supply chain parameters, including milk production, procurement, cold chain, animal insurance and farmer payments.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES SCHEMES INITIATED BY GOVT:

The Indian Govt. of India has placed a strong impetus on this sector and aims to double the income of farmers by 2022.

1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

a. Launched in 2016, the scheme provides financial support to farmers and cover their crop losses. The scheme covers rabi, kharif crops as well as annual horticultural and commercial crops.

b. PMFBY is a crop insurance policy and premium payable on the principle amount to the farmers.

2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):

a. Under the scheme, allocation of USD7.64 billion has been made for investment in irrigation, expanding cultivable area, improve efficiency of on-farm water to reduce wastage, enhance adoption of precision irrigation, etc.

3. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):

a. The scheme ensures the promotion of organic farming and balanced use of chemical fertilizers and enhance the quality of farm produce.

4. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA):

a. This technique facilitates retrieval of data and data entry from the internet-based web portals without having internet by using a simple mobile phone.

b. More than a dozen of services of innovative technology like USSD are being operationalized for farmers and other stakeholders.

And with this technology friendly agriculture based business agro Tourism have most potentials for new generation building and techno savvy entrepreneurs to go ahead.

CALL OF THE TIME: AGRI OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUPS

2018-12-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

CALL OF THE TIME: AGRI OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUPS

Main areas of development that our agri scientist should intensively focus are Computer controlled drip irrigation, computerised early-warning systems for leaks, Thermal imaging for crop water stress detection, Biological pest control, devices for early detect of diseases, Mobile app technology for pick up products directly by big retail houses from farmer door step, proper management of water/ canal system, enhancement of agro tourism simultaneously with the agro farming.

India holds the record for the second-largest agricultural land in the world, with around 60% rural Indian households making their living from agriculture. The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth largest, with retail contributing about 70% of the sales. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32% total food market of the country, one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. Our farmers should take two to three produces in a year. Seasonal food should be adopted. Agro tourism should be aided with farm for manifold their income and sharing the ideas among the next generation.

The agricultural sector in India employs half of our population and we are greatly dependent on the farmers and agricultural labourers to provide us with a means of sustenance. Yet, this is one of the riskiest sectors to be employed in because it is dependent on uncontrollable factors like weather, market fluctuations and topographical conditions. Modern techniques and methods will surely elevate agriculture to the next level and ease the burden on farmers. Therefore it creates a huge scope for Agriculture Startups in the country. Transformation of Agriculture to Agri-business is one of the important strategies where enterprising farmers practice profitable agriculture which is rapidly expected and going on also.

Here start-ups by young generation seems to run a big change in future India and Odisha.

Scope is so vast for Startups in agri sector and it is the call of the time. There are over 250 Agri-Tech startups in India across the value chain, leveraging the use of technology and innovation in business models to impact the large agri sector in India. Sub-Sectors are Startup Upstream (Input) Marketplace model (Matching Agri-input sellers to farmers) ,Downstream (Output) ‘Farm-to-Fork’ supply chain model,(Matching farmers to businesses or retail customers for fresh produce, processed food), Farming-as-a-service, IoT/Big Data led innovation, Engineering led innovation, Miscellaneous (Innovation in agri products, dairy farming). Focus area is developing and implementing techno-aided devices in practical field use.

1. Inefficient Supply Chain: Powerful incumbents control farming resources such as finance, seeds, chemicals, distribution, and supply chain. These systems have complete access to the distribution networks that supplies to about 8 Mn kisanas across the country too.

2. Middlemen and Agents: The farmer needs on the demand-side are controlled by middlemen and agents who own the fragmented supply chains. They also control the produce pricing. Traders require a license to operate within a mandi but wholesale and retail traders and food processing companies cannot buy produce classified as notified agricultural products (cereals, vegetables etc.) directly from a farmer.

Most of the market committees have failed to provide a competitive platform to farmers and lack transparency and technology intervention to ensure smooth and just trading.

3. Lack of financing: Distributors usually double up as lenders and most farm-debt is created because of using chemicals and seeds that are not pest-resistant. Additionally, domestic subsidies and investments announced in policies rarely reach the end customer – the farmer.

4. Inadequate Irrigation: Agriculture in India is a fragmented activity spread across 600,000 villages and most of the regions still depend on rainfall for water (~70%). While at the same time, groundwater levels are slowly receding from the 1,000 ft. avg. depth yearly. Irrigation dept. Have to be dynamic and get in touch the ground situation of the local area so as to design and manage the water system.

5. Farm size vs Productivity: Studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship b/w farm size and productivity. Indian farms are fragmented and small; 70% are less than 1 Hectare, while national average is less than 2 Hectares, resulting in significantly low farm yields.

Growing smartphone access will enable precision decision-making in farming activity to farmers and help drive increased productivity and revenue while reducing unit-costs. Credit system must be extended immensely to every needy farmers so that fiancé should not be a huddle in the farming processs and for preparation for next season. Smart farming in agricultural business like high-precision crop control, data collection, automated farming techniques will remove inefficiencies and bolster productivity. Information on crop yields, rainfall patterns, pest infestation and soil nutrition can be used to improve farming techniques over time. Overall young educated mass mostly start their job in agri oriented businesses and like the country and become real partner in the progress of Nation.

Government initiative for Agri-Entrepreneurship- a Super Booster

2018-09-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

Government initiative for Agri-Entrepreneurship- a Super Booster

Yield directly impacts a farmer’s cash flow and the ability to respond to fluctuations in the market. Long-term, yield limits a farmer’s ability to invest into their farm’s future to increase productivity and decrease risks associated with their crops (via inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, crop insurance, market/weather info, livestock health support, etc.) but also to invest into their families in areas such as education, healthcare, training, etc. The challenge is seeking affordable, accessible, easy-to-use technologies, products or services to enhance agricultural productivity in India. In this regard Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India in partnership with Startup India for Agri-tech start-ups with a commercially viable solution to solve in many way for innovative challenges in the sector. It will provide start-ups with access to priority infrastructure, and make Agriculture and it allied services an attractive sector for the country's best brains.

Under this challenge, major 12 problem statements were issued in the following areas:

1. Development of simplified, sensor based quick testing method to test nutrients & micronutrients in soil to reduce the collection, testing time required for the sample to ensure on the spot results to the farmers. In addition, simplification of soil testing protocols needs to be done for Soil Health Management.

2. Real time assaying and quick grading solution for eNAM to effectively handle huge lots of agricultural commodities. Electronic National Agriculture Market ( eNAM) is a virtual market with a physical market (mandi) at the back end to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities for pan-India electronic trading.

3. Development of e-marketplaces to connect food processors with agripreneur/ farmers to bridge the value gap – Farm to Fork model for agricultural marketing has not kept pace with the changes in economy, particularly relating to setting up of an efficient supply chain. National Agriculture Market (NAM) would create a win-win situation for both i.e. agripreneurs and processors.

4. Price forecast system for Pulses /Oilseeds /Potato /Onion / Tomato at the time of sowing. In India, price of commodity is dependent on various external factors such as area, yield, production, Household food demand, feed demand, etc. After consideration the sowing patterns, weather and other factor mentioned considering past trends and other factors.

5. Agriculture Extension, Scheme information, processes, hand holding support for benefit under different Government schemes on regular basis at the Panchayat / Common Service Center / KVK level which will provide information to farmers regarding schemes and benefits linking with Aadhar, Soil Health Cards and crop as well as health insurance etc. may be considered on this platform for the welfare of farmers.

6. Yield estimation modelling at village or farm level: The success of implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana depends upon accurate yield estimates at village/farm level. However, crop yield estimation is a very complex activity, as yield is influenced by many factors, such as crop genotype, soil, weather, management practice and various biotic and abiotic stresses and with an immediate insurance processing technology delivery system.

7. Use of technology in sorting/ grading/ increasing shelf life of agriculture produce (fruits, vegetables, flowers): In agriculture, post-harvest handling is the preliminary stage in a crop’s lifecycle which immediately follows harvest and is important to extend the marketable life of any produce to ultimately reduce waste while increase farmers’ earnings.

8. Use of technology to test adulteration of fresh produce: Food is essential for nourishment & sustenance of life. Adulteration of food cheats the consumer and can pose serious risk to health. Food is adulterated if its quality is lowered or affected by the addition of substances which are injurious to health or by the removal of substances which are nutritious.

9. Creation of regional Agri-Kiosk by the respective department to provide a kind of a one-stop shop for all agricultural needs providing services such as soil testing, seed selection, appropriate pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Agri-kiosks can also provide the latest agricultural equipment on rent which make it easily accessible for women farmers.

10. Alternate usage of paddy straw (left in field after harvesting of paddy) to discourage farmers from burning the same. The challenge is seeking for technological solutions for alernative usage of paddy straw to discourage Crop Residue Burning.

11. Technology to substitute the use of pesticides & insecticides to prevent pre-harvest losses. Due to lack of effective, affordable and eco-friendly technologies to control pests, farmers are left with no choice but to continue spraying harmful and toxic pesticides on crops.

12. Seeking affordable, accessible, easy-to-use technologies, products or services to enhance agricultural productivity in India.

Now One of the biggest issues facing the agricultural sector in India is low yield: India’s farm yield is 30-50% lower than that of developed nations. Average farm size, poor infrastructure, low use of farm technologies and best farming techniques, decrease of soil fertility due to over fertilization and sustained pesticide use, are leading contributors to low agricultural productivity. Hence for a mass change in whole government should firmly and sincerely focus on the same and value addition like agro tourism as in next to no time as possible.

AgriTech – An Investor’s Perspective

2018-06-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

AgriTech – An Investor’s Perspective

If the opportunity is viable, the size of the opportunity is a key factor as well as the demand. It is a very justifiable sector, given that food is the last thing one cuts out even when the economy goes down.

Technology will help lower costs for farmers. Thus, what startups have to do is build the cost value proposition for the farmer. And viability can come from the entire ecosystem on the supply chain, who can make business models viable.

For encouraging more funds to flow into the sector, the government should get incentives to funds who invest in agriculture, its sub-sectors, and in remote areas or village locality. For this general or traditional education and awareness at the grassroots level is missing and the central and state government has to play a huge role in policy making and implementation in way of incentives and idea of opportunities available – be it credit or technologies.

For startups looking to enter the sector, the top opportunities lay in capturing real-time data, image analytics, and technology for soil scanning. With satellite imagery, entrepreneur can tell at sowing stage, what is going to be the potential yield. So, once it reaches a point where demand supply is matching, the government can issue an advisory. These measures would help farmers to avoid excess sowing, manage supply so that prices don’t crash.

Over the last decade, the sector is being streamed with the stream of educated youth, fired by the ideas, passion and innovations to launch newer kinds of technology and business models to lift the face of agriculture from primitive to hi-tech one. Startups are providing missing links in the agri value chain and delivering efficient products, technologies and services to the farmers on one hand and the consumers on the other hand, From ICT apps to farm automation and from weather forecasting to drone use and from inputs retailing and equipment renting to online vegetable marketing, and from smart poultry and dairy ventures to smart agriculture and from protected cultivation to innovative food processing and packaging, its proliferation of all innovations and technology driven powerful startups set to revolutionize the food and agriculture sector. Various scientific and techno-aided initiatives are required to develop in the field of Upstream (Input) Marketplace model through Matching Agri-input sellers to farmers), Downstream (Output) ‘Farm-to-Fork’ supply chain model, for Matching farmers to businesses or retail customers for fresh produce, processed food, more importance on Farming-as-a-service, adding agri business with tourism, IoT/ Big Data led innovation, Engineering led innovation, Miscellaneous like Innovation in agri products, dairy farming. After all the public participation in funding will facilitate agri-enterprenuers for rapid growth of agro-tourism.

The Urbanisation of Indian Agri-Tech startups is just waiting to happen. The turning point is around the corner.

AgriTech Funding In India

2018-03-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

AgriTech Funding In India

According to the latest report, for 2016, over $3.23 Bn was invested in agriculture sector worldwide. Out of which, 53 Indian agritech startups raised $313 Mn. Globally, category-wise, 40% of the total funding ($1.29 Bn) was invested in food marketplaces or the food ecommerce category, followed by biotechnology startups which is 22% of the funding ($719 Mn). Investment in high-tech agriculture technologies, which include data-capturing devices and farm management software, came third at $405 Mn, while investment in Novel Farming Systems, which are startups using new and innovative ways to produce agricultural and biological products, was the fourth category wherein funding flowed ($247 Mn).

Demand-side factors such as population growth, rising income levels leading to increasing consumption, and increasing exports favour the growth of agriculture in India and Odisha. More so, policy support from the government such as increasing MSPs, increasing crop insurance support, the introduction of various schemes to facilitate farmers, welfare initiatives to easy credit to farmers will also increase growth. The need of the hour is for all stakeholders – from governments to agritech startups to investors – to come together in harnessing the opportunity to transform this sector. Mostly, government policies treat agriculture as a poverty alleviation method but the focus should be on enhancing productivity and raising incomes. The momentum should be on the application of technology to lower challenges on the input side right from planting to irritating to harvesting and finally selling.

The idea should centered on the theme that the agriculture value chain requires disturbance and innovation to tackle inefficiencies – which would most likely come from tech-driven startups rather than the traditional agriculture players in India and open up the hidden opportunity of income.

From an investor’s perspective, investors are normally looking for four-five years’ kind of time frame for returns. We have to look for asset-light opportunities, where we can use technology to scale up businesses. One of them is information technology – which farmers can use to multiple and smartly managed Agri-Business.

it’s challenging to monetize these products, there are interesting models which are being monetized, and farmers are willing to pay for them. However, on part of technology such as farm mechanization, India is lagging.

He said, “Despite India having one of the highest productive agricultural land in the world, its share of sales in the mechanized products sold by top Fortune 100 farm companies in the world is less than 5%.” This is where he believed an opportunity exists for startups.

Since average landholding size of farmers is very small, many mechanization technologies are beyond the means of farmers. He said, “Hence, startups need to come up with technologies which can be leased to farmers for a period of time to but whose maintenance rests majorly with start-ups.

We have to develop confidence in agritech extension activities, patience will have to be a key factor here. We might see a negative impact in the first four or five years and then the model might turn around.

Agri-Tech In India: Connecting Digital

2017-12-01T03:11:00.000-08:00

Agri-Tech In India: Connecting Digital

India holds the record for the second-largest agricultural land in the world, with around 60% rural Indian households making their living from agriculture thus creating a huge scope for Agri-Tech startups in the country.

In recent days, the central and state governments are proactively pursuing policies to improve farmers’ lives in India. In fact, the Union government has an aim to double the average farmer’s income by 2022. But is enough being done to remove inefficiencies in the agricultural supply chain to make Indian Agri-Tech a lucrative investment opportunity?

We have to promote and spread awareness about Agri-Tech in India.

Agriculture, along with fisheries and forestry, is one of the largest contributors to the Indian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) thus having the gravity of diversion of manifold production.

There has been an increased focus on investments in agricultural infrastructures such as irrigation facilities, warehousing, and cold storage.

A lot of Yojanas have been introduced to improve farmers’ fortunes and other facilities which could boost agriculture in India and that should be properly come into action.

A drop in landholdings (average 1.4 hectares), small and fragmented land holdings, a decreasing farming land versus a growing population, decreasing groundwater levels, poor quality of seeds, lack of mechanization, using technologies in fields, low yield per unit crop and a dependence on middlemen are some of the challenges for the growth of agriculture in India.

An absence of an organised marketing structure for produce, malpractices in the existing non-organised agricultural markets, inadequate facilities for transportation and storage, scarcity of credit, and limited access to superior technology to get timely information are some of the many afflictions which obstruct the Indian agricultural sector.

Opportunities For Agri-Tech many fold Startups

Opportunities lie in areas like how to increase crop production, improving the nutritional value of the crops, reduction in input prices for farmers, improving the overall process-driven supply chain, reducing wastage in the distribution system, easily farm mechanization available, and enabling connectivity of farmers with the masses by interlinking the consumer and producer.

Agri-Tech start-ups are also leveraging technology in the area of market linkages such as retail, B2C and B2B marketplaces and digital agronomy platforms. Technology aided agriculture start-ups are now able to address input challenges of agriculture in India from the very beginning. They are able to provide correct information, techniques, and efficiencies to farmers both for pre-harvest applications and post-harvest use cases.

Feel the aroma of Rural Life- a divinity Presence

2017-09-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Feel the aroma of Rural Life- a divinity Presence

Praise of Rural agro field surrounded vast green areas never ends.

How would you sense about waking up in a nursery rhyme, complete with wondering crowing cockerels and lowing cattle? Would you rub the leftovers of your dreams out of your eyes and walk down the dirt road to try your hand at milking a goat? Or maybe, chopping wood? Or possibly, you would prefer an early morning dive into the nearby village river? Is that your roaring tummy demanding your concentration?, focus on mind and physical may happens here. Under the open sunlight in day time and calm moon light in night awaken your openness and insight feelings ignited and flourishing.

Perhaps, you'd better follow the smell of that sumptuous poha, cooked on a wood-fire, and help yourself, before any more thinking. If you're still pinching yourself, and thinking why you haven't yet woken up in your real world, which is typically a commotion of sound, LEDs and fast-moving consumer goods, in fact, fast-moving busy everything... please stop before you have an angry black and blue patch on your arm, and we'll tell you what's going on. Life you feel here is far away of soundful city life and your gather some mental peace in rural country that costs a high.

Friendly people, lovely creatures seasonal food, fresh air... this is the village life for you. You could knock a few mangoes down under the old mango tree, fishing rods, climbing dates trees, try your hand at ploughing the muddy field or come back later in the year, during harvest -winter season to listen to the story of rice.

It is the story of village India that affectionate people who open up their wooden doors and lives to people curious about Indian culture, recipes or simply looking for an escape from the constant stir and buzz of city life.

Green and Organic farms, coconut orchards, coffee plantations or fish ponds ... there's a lot to choose from as and when you like. India Untravelled sources and develops firm relationships with places and people located a little off the beaten path to give you a taste and feel of how the other side lives.

"In India, there's a unique food experience in every part of coutry and yet, food experiences, which puts together experiential tours that let you partake of the culture, art of life and daily lives of the people. In Odisha you may experience the divinity of lord Jagannath along with its 56 varieties food Prasad every day. Odisha Rural means full of Agri aromas along with agri-allied like coconut crat works, cotton, jute craft items, mud pottery-terrakota works, bamboo daily essential items which all are eco friendly ever. Lovely feeling that bonding with agro tourism and rural life you experience have been unbelievable and attracts many outsiders to tour.

The Rural Tourism in India: Earthy Endeavours through Rich Village Tradition

2017-08-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

The Rural Tourism in India: Earthy Endeavours through Rich Village Tradition

In a land with 7 billion villages and 330 million Gods, there is much more off the map than there is on it. But now a days slowly Rural tourism initiatives in India are connecting the present to the past and aspiring a bright future, the avenues to the gallis, gaons and people to people, making history, rituals, culture, craft and tradition relevant in a contemporary context, explore some less-travelled roads

Travelling to a far outside from so called town rural environment with the intention of experiencing the culture, traditions and lifestyle- way of life situation of its inhabitants is too amusing. It really what connects a daily routine busy life beyond the concrete jungle, meeting the heritage and a calm society of nature and its people which is a different realistic chapter from the city life. The rural side in our India seems to be a wonderland that gives insights to a lot of mysteries. It’s not only about a ride on a bullock cart but it goes to a deep worship of nature and beauty of life, an Earthy Endeavors is Rural Tourism with agro tour.

Not only go through milking a goat, ploughing a field, harvesting rice, learning a few life tricks, building a greenhouse, watching the flora and fauna of sunrise and sunset time, fireflies outshine each other in the mating game, or simply sleeping under the stars, under bare sky, rural tourism initiatives are not just giving a taste of life on the other side of the farm hedge; they are creating sustainable eco-systems, which provide alternate sources of income for village dwellers without straining their existing resources.

India will always be torn between the urban and rural, yes about the two prodigals -the more used so busy city life and the lesser explored countryside. As a traveller I’ll always try to escape from the day to day schedule to a no zone of comfort and far from mobile networks conjunction, rush shopping malls, traffic jams and last but not the least official duty. Wearing a gamocha (traditional cotton towel) and bathing in water drawn from a nalkoop (hand pump) sometimes in rainy water under the open sunlight and sky, taking rest in hot summer under the banyan tree than wide at a conference meeting, in a clay walled and thatched roof hut instead of lavishly artificially painted brick walls and compressed plastered ceilings. So the traveller in me dreams of a rural scape in India and Odisha that leads to discover how silkworms turned to smooth and flowing drapes, how turmeric roots and Multan soil became face cream,taking the fragnance of sugandharaj and ketaki flower, medicated tulsi benefits, how Neem Patta (Nimtree leaves) became a component to high preserve the shine of our teeth in the form of Neem tooth paste, how sowing of seeds develop into vegetables and care as a baby and these seeds are later served as a palatable dish far best than cold stored colourful belated collections.

Agro-Tourism By Intelligence : Doubling the Farmers Income

2017-07-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Agro-Tourism By Intelligence : Doubling the Farmers Income

Not to make a far distance from Traditional-high valued age old system of cultivation, but to add on some innovative ideas so that straighten the farmers hand with the help of Technologies and mass support. Agriculture and agro business plays a imperative role in India’s economy. More than 60% of the rural households depend mainly on agriculture as their primary means of livelihood. The Indian food, grain and grocery market is the world’s 6^th largest, with retail contributing about 70% of the sales.

Till now our youth is not much more linked to this sector in many times.

India holds the record for the second-largest cultivated land in the world, it’s rural households making their living from agriculture comes to around 60%. Our agricultural sector in India employs half of our population and we are greatly dependent on the farmers and agricultural labourers. Now this is one of the riskiest sectors for employment because it is dependent on some volatile factors like weather, rain, market fluctuations and topographical variations. Efforts are being so made to give this sector a much-needed boost. And the biggest way of doing this is through adopting advancements in agriculture technology. Modern tricks and methodologies will surely lift up agriculture to the next level and it makes sure the ease the burden on farmers. This therefore creates a huge prudential scope for Agriculture Start-ups in the country.

Transformation of Agriculture to Agri-business is one vital strategies where enterprising farmers ( Agripreneuers ) practice profitable agriculture.

Scope of technical start-ups are wide in this sector like Land Record, varied Climatic conditions, record and analysis of domestic Productions, Main product, by-products, composition produce, farm Mechanisation, Farm Beautification, Systematising agribusiness with equalising local and focal traditions, cultures in a innovative way to attract more learners, trainees, entrepreneurs, students, farm boy , tourists etc.

Eco tourism and Agro Tourist spots are the call of time to sustaining global balancing. Hence a fusion is needed in between Agro, Tourism, Technology is going with solving challenges and meeting need of time gave birth to over 250 Agri-Tech start-ups so fare including 12 agro start ups the value chain, using technology and innovation in business models to expand large agro sector in India.

All the way the challenges are seeking affordable, accessible, easy-to-use technologies, agro products or services to boost agricultural productivity in India. On this way Intelligence, Internet of things, technology aided farming, track easily the destination by digitisation AgroTech start-ups are a godsend idea for boosting up India and Odisha.

Promoting Agro-Tourism for Growth: View in light of Odisha

2017-06-01T08:27:00.002-07:00

Promoting Agro-Tourism for Growth: View in light of Odisha

India is one of the very promising budding economies but has two shades of high income areas growing at a faster pace while low income areas growing at a slower pace. India is also one of the very emerging tourist destinations for the world, specifically religious tourism; Agro tourism,sea beach, Ayurveda; yoga and so on.

India and Odisha has come to be the land of Gods all over the world now. This is an opportunity for us as a country to develop tourism in regions that show poor growth when compared with the national average. And Odisha is one such state surrounded by many rivers , mountains , lakes and temples. It is rightly termed as a melting pot of cultures mixed with a zing of tradition but is somehow backward in terms of economic performance. The reasons for this may be many but Odisha has a very chance to prosper itself into a preferred tourist destinations.

The Jagannath Desh is other name of Odisha and by targeting this Agro tourism side by side may be flourished and earned a lucrative income.

The total tourist inflows have come to affect the GDP of Odisha, may it be foreign or domestic tourist inflow. This brings to a conclusion that a relatively backward region can be pushed into the virtuous circle of development by developing tourism mainly in agriculture based there and this would have a positive impact upon GDP.

It should be framed by some planned policy initiatives that may help in furthering the same should be initiated by the Governments with more emphasis of the regions where tourism is developed. These policy initiatives may be in the form of developing infrastructure for the tourism industry on a fast track basis, enacting special laws for the safety of the tourists, creating world class airports, roadways, five and seven star hotels, special ferries for nearby places and other innovative ideas like creating a rural environment, agri tourist spots, facilities and continuing to carry on with these apprehending the increase in the number of tourists each year. It is no doubt that it has tremendous potentiality to expand tourism sector through Agricultural based prosperity and beauty.

Agro-Tourism: Career-Art-Business win-win Potential

2017-04-30T22:38:00.002-07:00

Agro-Tourism: Career-Art-Business win-win Potential.

Far from home , anything might possibly happen. At the very least for a few hours or days or months you will be a different person with different standup. Now more Indians than ever past an afford to embrace possibility as voluntarily , temporarily and for amusement. In fact an increasing trend of theses travellers however well heeled hospitalised are choosing to explore India itself and Odisha rather foreign like America oe Europe. It is not a surprise.

Along with unparalleled history, variety culture and natural beauty, Indian is steadily improving the quality of its tourism infrastructure with better hotels and holiday hubs in all the price ranges as well as the new experience of villages and old traditional tractions. It encompasses adventure , beach, heritage, mountain, wild life and rural agro destinations. It attracts for a whole career and an art of hospitality and business of providing basic amenities and services.

As per the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Asia has shown a commendable growth in tourism sector in recent days. This sector is creating immense opportunities for income, employment, preservation of culture and cross-culture understanding. Tourism is one of the important sectors contributing to the economy of the country for the future growth. In some of the countries, Indians are considered to be the highest spenders for the shopping. In the recent past, country has witnessed the substantial increase in the disposable income of average Indians. With the initiatives of new government, the “Brand India” is emerging strongly. This can be witnessed easily after the visits of Prime Minister of India to USA, Japan, Australia and other countries.

In the changing socio-political scenario, international and national Indian governments and state Governments are also considering travel and tourism as a tool of development. Travel and tourism is the third-largest foreign exchange earner for India. In the hotel and tourism sector, 100 percent FDI is allowed through the automatic route. A five year tax holiday has been offered for 2, 3 , 4-star category hotels located around UNESCO World Heritage sites (except Delhi and Mumbai).

Tourism industry is dominated by youngsters, female entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises are playing an important role in tourism and travel business and agro tourism. This industry demands youth with pleasing personality, smiling face and good communication skill for employment. In this line Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) extends it s Fully equipped academic and practical support for careers Entrepreneurs for building wonder ful job generation in Tourism filed and as Odisha is based on Agriculture and Religion it provides manifold felicitating offer for youngsters to grow.

Tourism is one of the emerging academic disciplines in the social science for employment and career prospectus. Young interns as well as students can look forward to working or developing their career in some of the following important areas in tourism and travel industry: Tour Operations, Travel Agencies, Event Management Companies, Tour Guiding, Wildlife, agri-tourism, rural tourism, safaris and bird watching: Lucrative jobs opportunities are involved in Lots of domestic and international tourists visit especially for special interest tourism, Accomodaion, Transport/Logistic/Cargo:, Adventure Tour Companies: FOREX/Insurance /Banking, Tourism Boards. Travel Writing /Photography.

Indian and Odishan Agro-Tourism:Based on Hospitality and Attractions

2017-04-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Indian and Odishan Agro-Tourism:Based on Hospitality and Attractions

The chief tourists to India and Odisha come from the United Kingdom and the United States, Canada, England . The attractions are the wildlife sanctuaries , ancient monuments like Konark, Jagannath Temple, and, perhaps more importantly, the variety culture. The country offers a blend of Hindu, Moslem and European influences. The dominant religions are Hinduism and Islam and many more attractions relate to these. Temples and mosques, holy and modern cities, and religious festivals abound. The most famous attraction is, of course, the Taj Mahal, Konark . A major problem for tourists is the large size of the country. The package circuit is recommended for many tourists: Bombay, Udaipur, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Agra, Benares and Delhi.

In order to facilitate them with fresh rural and natural greenery as well as far from crowd and rush life of busy cities domestic tourists are also hunting for a place like Rural Agro Tourism. It is a call of time that provides a win win situation for new young entrepreneur who have a fun and love with nature.

Apart from domestic many arrangement International facility brought by WTO. World Tourism Organization. Headquartered in Spain, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) is recognized as the world's most important tourism organization that serves as a consultant to the United Nations. The WTO seeks to promote best tourism possibility throughout the world, particularly in the developing countries. It collects information, issues publications dealing with as world tourism trends, approaches to marketing and the protection of natural and cultural resources as well. Its affiliates conduct training and education programs. The WTO also works to ease foreign travel in a variety of ways: by reducing the number of passport and visa requirements and by standardizing travel signs.

In most countries the private sector helps in the development, marketing, and management of tourism. In rural area it mostly depends on locally available facilities. The primary industries involved in tourism are the transportation companies: air, bus, rail and cruise lines; the lodging industry; the food and hospitality service industry; fairs and attractions, shopping, tour wholesalers and travel agents. Hence al the activities segregated as the management of tourism, how do tourists travel , travel distribution systems and the future of tourism.

The manifold rays that throws agro tourism: Income multiplier. The direct and indirect effects of an infusion of income into an area is termed the"multiplier”. Multipliers can be generated in terms of sales, income, employment or payroll. The initial spending of money by a tourist will generate more than that in income to the group or community. It is necessary to know something about what happens to money in the community. As noted above, the motel owner can do several things with the income brought in by tourists. First, money can be either saved or spent. And it can be spent locally or spent outside the community. As far as the community is concerned a vital, saving the money is similar to spending it outside the community. The income-producing potential is lost. The extent to which someone spends part of an extra rupees of income is termed the margin. Agro tourism benefited a mass as well a state as a whole.

OPPORTUNITY ODISHA – a gateway to new Dimensions

2017-03-01T17:47:00.001-08:00

OPPORTUNITY ODISHA – a gateway to new Dimensions

In Indian Agriculture and Tourism Industry Scenario just like the “True Culture of India”.

Global economic restructuring has created a excellent climate in which many local economies have to adjust, in order to maintain their socio-economic viability. These changes, coupled with new ideas and approaches to leisure and recreation time are encouraging tourism development in rural areas rapidly at an ever increasing pace. Rural with agro based tourism development results in entrepreneurs developing businesses that attract visitors or as a result of tourists discovering the area and thereby generating a demand for tourism related activities to which local entrepreneurs retort. Due to the conceptualism of the development of tourism in a rural area is not simply a matter of matching tourist demands with local product supply but a matter of evaluating local suitability and acceptability.

Agro – Tourism: Tourism on the farms enables farmers to diversify their activities while enhancing with facilities look for genuine rural calm atmosphere where they can share familiarity of the household they live in, learn traditional cultures, crafts and skills with their hosts, make friends which is a quality, modern times have almost forgotten and above all enjoy homemade natural food and drinks.

Agritourism in India and Odisha : an Innovative Income generating activity for youth Enterprising Farmers Agriculture is backbone of Indian economy. This sector’s contribution towards GDP is decreasing and farmers are finding it difficult to carry the agricultural activities without an additional income. Whereas tourism is termed as an instrument for good and dedicated employment generation, poverty alleviation and development, Agri-Tourism brings in together the declining and booming sector.

Advantages of Agri-Tourism:

1. . Agriculture sector has the capacity to absorb expansion in Tourism sector.

2. It brings major primary sector Agriculture closer to major service sector tourism expected to create win-win situation for both the sectors.

3. Tourism sector has the potential to enlarge.

4. An inexpensive gateway for the cost of food, accommodation, recreation and travel and tourism.

5. Curiosity for the urban about farming industry and life style increases

by providing scope for re-discovering the rural life, which is rich in diversity.

6. Strong family oriented recreational activities through rural games, festivals, food, costumes and dress.

7. Educational value of Agri-Tourism spreading knowledge about Agriculture science where urban students are moving with the pace of technology.

Contribute to the success of Agri-Tourism as a benevolent service:

1. Farmer: Majority cases farmer is less educated, less exposed and innocent for him outsider as guest is (like god) and is treated wholeheartedly without any commercial motive. He entertains the guest while entertaining himself in the process he fills all the service gaps . This makes him a natural businessman.

2. Village: Village being located far from the city lacks urban facilities but is rich in natural resources. The investment is the natural resources itself.

3. Agriculture field: Each field is unique which adds to the attraction of the urban population. This is the incentive wealth of the rural people.

Basic ethics of Agri-Tourism

1. Have something for visitors to see: Animals, birds, farms, culture of the village, dress and festivals.

2. Have something for visitors to do: Participating in agricultural operations, riding camel, buffalo, cooking in earthen pot and participating in the rural games i.e. Gillidanda, KABAADI, Gotti (marble etc.).

3. Have something for visitors to buy: Rural crafts, dress materials, farm gate fresh processed food are few items.

Internationally Business- Agro Tourism

2017-02-01T04:22:00.000-08:00

Internationally Business- Agro Tourism

India- The most tourists to India come from the Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States. The attractions are the wildlife, Temple, ancient monuments, and , the culture. The country offers a unify of Hindu,

Moslem and European influences. The most Temples and mosques, holy cities, and religious festivals abound , the rural culture and tradition with local river, hills and costumes . The most famous attraction is, of course, the Bada Deula or the Jagannath Temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri in Odisha, the Taj Mahal in Agra, U.P and many places like Bombay, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Jaypur, Udaipur, Agra, Gujarat, Benares and Dehli.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) is recognized as the world's most and vital tourism organization. Among, it serves as a consultant to the UNO United Nations Organisation. As an promoter of tourism inter country it plays a vital role. The WTO is promote tourism throughout the world, particularly in the developing countries. It deals with such things as world tourism trends, mostly approaches to marketing and the protection of natural and cultural values and resources. Its affiliates conduct training and education programs also. The WTO also works to ease foreign tourists travel in many ways: by reducing the number of passport and creating free air zones , negotiating between countries , easy visa requirements and by standardizing travel signs.

A fully developed tourism can provide benefits for both tourist and the host country or community. Tourism boosts up the living standards of the local people via economic benefits like income multipler and infrasture upgradation it can bring to an area. It should take their culture, history and the stage of economic development of the destination into consideration. Properly handled, the development of tourism can maximize the benefits of tourism while minimizing the lacunas and problems. Tourism contributes to the foreign-exchange earnings, produce income and jobs, can improve economic structures and also in may fold encourages small business development.

People spend their total time in one of three ways: at work; or engaged in necessary or routine tasks like eating, sleeping, medical check up or at leisure. Before the Industrial Revolution most people worked in the field. The way they spent their time was mostly influenced by the time and the uncertain weather. As we moved from the farms to the factories, time was probably controlled by the factory owners. Perhaps to have output on a continuous basis year-round, labourers were forced to work up to 60 to 70 hours a week. People tended to base their leisure time around their home because they were so tired from weekly working. Time is increasingly very much important to people. Unlike money, time cannot be saved mostly. There is an increasing number of two-family member households employed in the workplace and schooling of child. It will, therefore, become very difficult to find a time when all members of family can get together for a vacation. Thus, there will be an increased demand for time-intensive activities. Such things like weekend packages and short trips will ease to families who have the money but not more time to travel.

The movement of international tourists have a great importance for the expansion of the sector. It is the responsibility of the carrier of both sides to communicate its message effectively. These objectives should identify which particular target markets are to be reached, what is the tasks have to be done to reach the markets,who has to perform the tasks, and they have to be completed by which time. They must emphasize quality service.

And at last if Government supports , agrpo tourism sector drastically equipped with world tourism and make a open world tourism success.

An Emerging idea In Rural Entrepreneurship: Agro Tourism

2016-12-31T16:36:00.000-08:00

: An Emerging idea In Rural Entrepreneurship: Agro Tourism

Among the leading industry, Tourism has become and continues to grow rapidly, contributing effectively to economic growth and employment-generation in many countries. It hopes the country in fundamental growth of the country like India in the form of Rural Tourism i.e. Agro-Tourism because of its Massive Rural and Agro livelihood. The emerging sectors in Indian economy with tremendous vibrating potential to assist the process of sustainable rural development is the Agro Tourism. Rural tourism-Agro Tourism has been a major concept under the new dimension of tourism paradigm where agro-based rural community and its flourished culture are treated to be the major components of the tourism market. Odisha also waiting and calling for a shining future to be flourished in this sector.

Agro tourism is essentially an activity that takes place in the rural countryside. Agro tourism creates an experiences for tourist who likes and enjoys locations that are sparsely populated, it is primarily in natural environment, and it meshes with seasonality and local events of the land and is based on preservation of culture, heritage and traditions. Agro Tourism consists of farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and eco-tourism. The area has tremendous potential to bridge the gap between the rural and urban people. Though the sector might be new for India, internationally it has been well recognized and considered as an important part of rural economy. Entrepreneurship in this sector bears great possibilities as revenue generating avenue as well as the prevention and maintenance of indigenous tradition and culture. Odisha the land of agriculture, culture, temple , natural scenery and rich heritage is waiting for flourishing in Agro-Tourism.

More than 6 lakh villages in india and 51 thousand villages in Odisha depicts the span of entrepreneurship, which is considered as a central force of economic growth and development. Tourism's role in rural development is basically can help to sustain and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Tourism involves mostly small enterprises, so the role of tourism entrepreneurs can be important for the development of rural tourism. Of all economic sectors, here the greatest degree of involvement is needed by the entrepreneurial sector in formulating sustainable strategies. Especially in Agro tourism, entrepreneurship has gained an increasing importance as it is seen as a major driving force behind rural tourism. However, entrepreneurship demands an enabling environment in order to flourish. Entrepreneurial culture, climate, infrastructure and support are important elements for such an environment. The creation of such an environment starts by the development of appropriate institutional support at the country level to address the supply of entrepreneurship, focusing on the number of young people who have the motivation, financial means and the skills to start new business. Our Policies and programmes should be targeted specifically at the entrepreneurial sector to increase the overall education level of the population, with ensuring that entrepreneurial training is readily accessible to develop skills and capabilities to start a business in ground level. Regarding the sustainable strategies, they have to be based on public/private approach (PPP mode) in which the public sector can play a very significant role as facilitator and stimulus for private entrepreneurship in tourism.

The social and economic impacts are out of boundary. Foreign exchange earrings. Domestic revenue generation, Employment generation, utilisation of untapped youth, development of infrastructures and growth of allied business having its manifold benefits throws by it.

Odisha Calling: Economic augmentation through Agro-Tourism

2016-11-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

Odisha Calling: Economic augmentation through Agro-Tourism

Rural India as well as Odisha needs an multitalented development for reducing extensive poverty, increased rural economic activities, boosting global agricultural competition and also towards building a strong economic growth for the land by creating and supplementing highly potential Indian agriculture sector with the tourism growth. It is very much required to operationalize a systematic and overall development sectorial plan with twin goal of employment generation and financial growth. Fusion and development of tourism sector with the rural economy can bring a win-win situation for Odisha the Agro with lesser extra funding and activity addition .

An apex team of frontline agro tourism professionals is needed directions and guidance in this regards and sectorial excellency ; keep interest in creating a structured and systematic human resource management plan-outlay for Agro Tourism through involving local native communities in a rural setting. The policy planners should look forward deeply and heartily to inspire and promote innovations for developing local communities’ like Selp Help Group, Women Groups , Club members, Societies and also increase preparedness for the tourism sector by focusing on certain suggestive core strategies for Agro Tourism in Odisha. It should be taken as an primary instrument for growth of underdeveloped, developing and rural areas. Servicing the tourism sector with trained and skilled manpower becomes imperative and challenge for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017) for the development of more decentralized and agro based rural tourism destinations.

This should include following most vital and primary items::

1. Policy framework : pro-poor tourism development policy is to be ready to chalk-out the rural and weaker areas equitably all across the state, defining of various rural tourism circuits, introducing incentives schemes and subsidising investments for prosperity of potentiality.

2. Establishing training and development tourism trust funds: various Community-based and community-driven, these trusts are to be established to put forward about local tourism development in the hands of the local communities themselves on public private partnership with the various government regulators.

3. Identifying the focused current and future skills and training needs through developing an industry orientated training strategy, designing and developing job specific training programs for promoting careers in agro tourism, promoting various industry participation, engagement in training opportunities.

4. Focusing on the youth mass - By creating opportunities for the most talented local youth manpower by adopting a multi-disciplinary process with regard to career development opportunities. We have to remove cultural and social barriers that can prevent young people from working.

5. Establishing occupational skills capacity building activities for tour operators, hospitality- accommodations management, cuisine preparation, sectorial guides and transportation

6. Develop a frame work in the state for sustain and long term existence of Agro Tourism in the rural and.

7. Regular touch with NGOs, UN Organizations should be required. In each potential area at least one pilot project has to be developed and make it as a show piece for others in each identified rural / underdeveloped areas for all states.

Practically rural India holds the key to vibrant economic development, reduction of regional imbalances and disparities, poverty reduction, enormous employment generation and. The future does belongs to the rise of new economic giant powers , India being tom-tomed as the favourite super power with empowered Gram Udaya- Bharat Uday means prosperity with Rural.

Development in Agro-Tourism Sector: Govt.’s Priority

2016-11-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Development in Agro-Tourism Sector: Govt.’s Priority

In Grass root level Agro tourism can help in creating sustainable enlargement in some of our villages in Odisha. Governments should very much recognize importance of Agro tourism at priority basis because of our base is Agriculture. That will surely help in creating a healthy competitive business environment amongst them. Along with Odisha Government, the local community and NGO should come forward in developing rural tourism spots and facilitating high quality of service to the tourists. Atithi Devo Vaba should be practised in real sense. In Odisha and also in India rural areas are an integral and important part of the modern tourism focused. Agro tourism has its our speciality and will emerged as an important boosting factor for sustainable human resource development like poverty alleviation, employment generation, use of youth power, ecological regeneration and promotion of remote areas and empowering women mass and other needy groups in the country area so as to promoting social integration and attracts international crowd.

Factors calling Govt. For prompt action:

1. Restructuring of policies to promote Agro tourism for easy to doing.

2. Providing suitable and adequate basic infrastructure like accommodation, good roads, rail facilities, local transport, communication modes and other essential basic infra.

3. Identifying the potential villages with immense prospecting for exploring and developing as a showcase of Odisha as wel as Agro Tourism.

4. Encouragement and promoting for financial investments in remote rural areas in the way of subsidising schemes etc. For infra development and others .

5. Encouraging and promoting in involving the local community like Gram Panchayat, NGO, SSG, SHG to participate at all levels for their benefit and also developing the area.

6. High lighting heritage of rural & tribal areas of Odisha and India for promotional campaigns.

7. Promotion of PPP MODE- public-private partnerships for better success.

8. More stress should be given in improvement of service quality as well as on creativity and innovation ideas.

The government should play a vital and initial rule to promote rural areas to ensure sustainable money-making plans in and above the rural field. Then only positive social change could be mobilized and new commands come forwards. Govt. Have to initiate first some models before rural mass about how Agro based Tourism could fetch a tremendous income and reputation generating vibrant that have Odisha and also Indian because we have strong potential and culture that has always generated vibrant and immense sense of astonishment for Brand Odisha as well as Make in Bharat.

Agro-Tourism: A new Dimension for a country Development with Govt boosting up

2016-10-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Agro-Tourism: A new Dimension for a country Development with Govt boosting up

To day time calls for alternative Tourism because of the potential of our village they have. Our country & rural villages have so many potential things to cater the needs of the tourism . Our rural people , its culture , languages, living style, tradition, arts, township, handicrafts , scene lands of nature can attract the tourists irrespective of its taste , boundary, perceptions & attitudes . Our great strength is that almost 74% of the population of India resides in its seven lakh beautiful villages.

Agro tourism will definitely emerged as an significant instrument for sustainable human development including employment generation, environmental greenness and development of far remote areas and poverty eradication and women empowerment and promoting social integration and international exposer. The government should very much active in promote rural tourism and Agro Tourism to ensure sustainable economic development as well as positive and dynamic social change.

The Government has realized rightly that our rural India can offer a lot to the rest of World. The tenth five-year plan Tourism has been notified as one of the major sources for generating employment, eco friendly income source and promoting sustainable livelihoods with green initiative. The government has decided to develop required infrastructure for facilitating rural tourism. The union ministry of Tourism in collaboration with UNDP has launched the Endogenous and attractive Tourism project in the year 2004, concurrent to the existing rural tourism scheme of the government of India. UNDP will help for capacity building of rural youth, involvement of NGOs, local communities and artisans forge strong community with PPP mode i.e. Private and Public sector Partnerships. Till now Ministry of Tourism Government of India, with the facilitate of State tourism department has identified 31 villages across the country as tourist sites like Raghurajpur in Odisha and providing funding for financial assistance for each project and progress more. Also emphasising developing logistic facilities and starting community participation through self-help groups (SHG) and women entrepreneurs.

By the gift of Almighty our villages will become very much self sufficient and internally and externally attractive with lots of elements within based on Farming. Agro Tourism is a multidimensional destination because it has Eco, Cultural, tribal, Farm, Historical seeing the sights within itself. The major challenge for growth of Agro tourism is to consider conservation of natural resources and environment as well as a proper understanding between the tourist and local people to participate in for common development and progress.

Sustainable agriculture and Agro-Tourism

2016-09-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sustainable agriculture and Agro-Tourism

In today’s agricultural methodology worldwide are challenged by ever changing climate change and other natural and artificial fears, such as increased energy/power costs. Sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices help farmers to adjust changes and to lesser greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable agriculture also means to give a new shape and opening the door to that can help making farming cleaner and greener and more resistant to disasters and fears.

Now demand for agriculture and ancillaries is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and also growing demand from industry sector. Thus, an burning need to identify severity of problem facing agriculture sector to restore its vitality. To triumph over these problems, innovation and intensification of sustainability is the need of this hour.

At present there are outstanding business prospects, multiple trade opportunities , competitive pricing of agricultural product standards internationally in the agro industry. Production is growing up as well as foreign exports are growing has benefited the consumers but not the real marginal farmers.

Farmer entrepreneurs operates in a complex and very dynamic environment. An agriculturist with an entrepreneurial spirit energetically, very enthusiastically and carefully makes numerous different decisions about his farm in this sector that surely influences the profits of the farm business.

The Agricultural sector needs immediate reposition for improvement of competitiveness in between products and services and creates a non-traditional market for innovative products and services. Agricultural Innovation and Sustainability’ with Agricultural Tourism or Agro- Tourism is the very Holidays concept of Visiting and wondering a working farm or any agricultural field , horticultural, garden, or agribusiness operations to enjoy, educate, or active involvement in the activities. Agro-tourism is the form of tourism which involves on rural culture as a tourist attraction with natural beauty. It has provide a new dimension as potential income and job and money generating activity. Desire is the key to motivation, but it is determination and commitment of farmers may make in Agro tourism it is no doubt. In India it really paves to Make in India with innovative and progressive ideas.

In this connection following are to be followed: (a) Increasing availability of green and clean technologies and tools to reduce vulnerability (b) Internet booking, online marketing and promotion for Agro Brand, (c) Recognition given for sustainable tourism investment and, creating low cost of energy, facing Competition from emerging destinations.

Agro Tourism Futures Strategy –PPP

2016-08-01T07:45:00.004-07:00

Agro Tourism Futures Strategy –PPP

There is need of Develop a series of prevailed Regional Heritage and Wellness facilities and prepare and implement a Management Plan to identify rich heritage and wellness investment opportunities. With public private means Govt for public Infra development and agri entrepreneurship have to coordinated with PPP mode so that a big facility oppurtinity could be availed. For this we have to Strengthen and empower community managers of natural resources and the need facilitate equity participation of stakeholders in ownership of agritourism attractions.

We have to Prepare and implement an thorough AgriTourism Futures Strategy to identify emerging increasing trends and conduct specialised research including economic modelling, scenario planning and supply and demand modelling.

Crucial points to be considered:

1.Accountability – at all levels

2.Compliance with requirements of funding and support agencies

3.Assessment of trends to inform continuous and iterative strategic planning

The allocation should be clear and measurable responsibilities to each stakeholder ensures individual agency accountability for the delivery of specific Actions.

Each action plan establishes must comprise:

the recommended actions, the agency/s and industry partners responsible for completing the action and milestones for completion.

Focusing areas are:

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT :

AgriTourism creating a new cadre of farmer and rural entrepreneur with a business focus, A workforce culture of service excellence, business growth and development , A coordinated approach among government, industry and training providers in human resource development

COORDINATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

An effective multi-sectoral and inter-agency mechanism that recognizes and integrates agriculture and tourism across planning processes, Improved community understanding and support for Agri Tourism through effective engagement, An effective and appropriately resourced tourism network and consolidation of partnerships.

Agro Tourism in India- India Vibrates

2016-06-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

Agro tourism is now considered the best ever growing sector in the tourism industry. Keeping in view its ever-growing role in attracting urban tourists, recently Ministry of Tourism Government of India in collaboration with various state governments has started initiative to support and develop rural village/agro tourism in our country.

Agro tourism has been successfully implemented in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, and others. It has the tremendous capacity to create a win- win situation for both the farmers and agriculturists by generating additional handful of income. In Maharashtra, rural areas have formed an organization named Maharashtra State Agri and Rural Tourism . There are about 150 agri-tourism centres in the state now working having any financial assistance of the government scheme. In Kerala, concept of tourist village has been implemented replacing rural tourism. Under the project, an entire village has been cleaned, repaired, restored provided with traditional pathways, street lantern, landscaping without disturbing old fashions to offer an heavenly setting. West bengal ranks 1^st in terms of production of paddy and vegetables; 2^nd in potato; 7^th in production of fruits and eighth in flower production. The State is the second largest user of land for agriculture purpose. Also West Bengal is marked for its varied tourism properties/ products. It is the only State in India where mountain like the Himalaya, Sea-the Bay of Bengal and the vast greenery of Gangetic delta co-exist. Of course it’s real beauty spread over every villages with local art, culture and others.

In India Agro Tourism is at infant stage. It is the concept which has been successfully promoted in Europe and USA. India has the vibrant potentiality and immense scope to flourish this business and the State of Odisha has every possibility to become an agro tourism hub in the country if promoted and developed in a planned manner due to its long and calm seashore, hills , rivers, ancient temples and highly rich and oldest culture . As there has been a growing complexity in earning bread and better especially those living in the rural areas; the prospect of agro tourism throws a light of hope to them in future and economic infusion.

Components/Products of Agro Tourism

2016-06-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Components/Products of Agro Tourism

Agro tourism is more over spread on the rural motivations than just a tourist product . Agro tourism tourists usually travel with family and originate mostly from urban or semi-urban areas. They try to understand the activities of village economy in grass-root level and cultural amusements and enjoy the rural green environments which are attractions of agro tourism. Places of agricultural importance like highest crop yielding farm, fishing activities, plantation, animal yielding produces, floriculture and many more that bind the tourists in bond of a love and familiarity. There is a vast area to explore of piggery, goaterry, bullock cart riding piggery, goaterry, bullock cart riding, camel riding, boating, agro shopping, biodiversity park, rain-water harvesting and watershed management, models of soil-water conservation, nursery management, small poultry unit, pisy-culture, sericulture, herbal park, medical plantation, bio gas utility models, solar utility products. It also supports and enriches to conserve our local custom and culture like folklore, kirtan, bhajan night, palagan, jatra, local whole some and tasty cuisines and heart touching handicrafts. The potentiality involves in:

i. How to grow various agriculture like cereals, corns, vegetables, flowers and fruits, medical plants etc, ii. Cultivation of fish and fishing, iii. Animal rearing, milking of cow, sheep, goats , egg from hen etc and iv. preparation of cheese, curd, butter etc from.

And the Special Attractions are in :

i. Bird watching, ii) Picking fruits and vegetables, iii. Identification and familiarization of some common trees specially among the students, green hunters. iv. Demonstration of clay – mitti works, v. Extraction of date juice and preparation of molasses (Gur) there from, vi. Preparation of pickles, bari (badi) , jam etc., vii. Exhibition of local art and culture(kirtan, palagan etc.) viii. Arrangement of feasts, ix. Day trips to local areas, x. Visit to local temple, market etc

Other Potential and attractive Events are :

i. organising Rural games like Kabadi, Kho Kho during rural festivals like Roja, pongal, onam etc, ii. Bicycle rides, iii. Bullock cart ride, kite flying festival on Makar Sankranti and many many place to place variable thousands of heart touching events.

Perception and Sustainability of Agro Tourism

2016-04-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Perception and Sustainability of Agro Tourism

Agro tourism as part of ecotourism for both are related and subject to natural attractions. It is as models of potential development of Natural resources and economic and social support of local society. In past natural sights and plantations are considered as ecotourism or agro tourism but now the concept has been changed that involves bringing together the tourism sector and agricultural sector also with a vital focus to rural atmosphere as a model of regional development. World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates an increase of 6 percent per annum in case of rural tourism against the growth of 2 percent in tourism as a whole in this sector. Experts opined that the market today has increased tourist interest in activities related to nature, culture and tradition . In many countries agro tourism grows quickly as also in India. When tourists gain experience in activities which vary from everyday life and places they have visited before. It has a tremendous potential to expand and growth.

The urban civil society people have their roots in village. They are very much curious to gain knowledge of about sources of food, plants, and animals, raw materials like wood, handicrafts, languages, culture, tradition, dress and rural lifestyle. Agro tourism which revolves around farmers, villages and agriculture has the capacity to satisfy the curiosity of this segment of population. The ultimate objective of promoting agro tourism is to increase farmers’ income and quality of life of rural society as a whole. It aims at altogether implicitly growth of farmers society in India. Hence it directly involves the national augmentation. It reduces the level of urbanization as people work and earns more from agro tourism activities. Hence it emphasises on green , the pollution reduction successfully implemented. It promotes local products and create added value through direct marketing and stimulates economic activities in order to increase benefits in societies where the agro tourism is developed. In fact, promotion and development of agro tourism will create various opportunities that lead towards sustainable development of destinations like Conservation of plant biodiversity, Conservation of forest areas, reducing the economic disparity, Relationship building among rural people, Upliftment of traditional business, Improving socio-economic status of the farmers, Generation of additional income/revenue, Promotion of regional development, Increase environmental awareness, Provide visitors with personal experience about nature and culture lovers.