From beaches to culture to heritage to adventure and now agri-tourism, the State of Goa is looking at every possible avenue to add to its tourism portfolio, though its USP still remains the sun, sand and sea.
So, will it be possible for agriculture to blend in with the existing tourism highlights and contribute to the growth of tourism?
As per reports, the new agricultural policy intends to promote agri-tourism, where farmers, with at least 4,000 sqm of land, will be able to participate in tourism activities.
It is also learnt that the government will encourage new cash crops such as avocado, rambutan and pomelo, as well as promote farmer field schools and demonstration farms.
These fruit will add to the existing fruits that Goa is famous for, but can they do the trick for tourism?
It is also learnt that the government will encourage new cash crops such as avocado, rambutan and pomelo, as well as promote farmer field schools and demonstration farms. These fruit will add to the existing fruits that Goa is famous for, but can they do the trick for tourism?
Agri tourism in Goa will be an entirely new avenue for the State, as this is one segment that has not been touched upon. The first question, therefore, that comes to mind is whether there is potential for agri-tourism in Goa.
On a broader perspective, Goa’s ongoing efforts at ecotourism haven’t exactly paid off. Will agri-tourism be more successful? It could, of course, complement ecotourism by promoting environment friendly practices, but it would require lot of effort.
What is expected is that agri-tourism would bring tourists who could be interested in knowing more about local produce and possibly sustainable farming practices, travellers who would want to learn of the State’s agricultural biodiversity.
Goa has no apple orchards that can entice tourists, no vast strawberry fields, either. It has coconut groves, mango orchards, cashew forests, paddy fields and spice plantations. It is the last that have, in the past, shown potential for agriculture tourism, and in certain areas, the spice plantations have converted into tourist attractions.
Now, can Goa make its paddy fields and coconut plantations and mango orchards work for it?
Goa has no apple orchards that can entice tourists, no vast strawberry fields, either. It has coconut groves, mango orchards, cashew forests, paddy fields and spice plantations.
In the current scenario, agriculture is one sector that has not shown significant growth in the State, instead one could even say that there has been a decline.
Promoting agri-tourism could, in fact, provide a much-needed boost to agriculture as it could be added impetus to the Goan farmer, who struggles to break even.
It is interesting to read that almost all new business ventures in the restaurant arena claim that they buy their produce locally, so that they have it fresh for their customers and also support the local farmers.
But Goa’s agricultural produce is limited in quantity and variety. Local markets are full of agricultural produce that is procured from outside the State.
How then does this support for the local farmer actually work? Can agri-tourism make the difference, and in reality, boost agricultural produce in the State?
What Goa would have to do is create cultural experiences in the agricultural field, whereby it offers the tourists the opportunity to engage with local farmers, participate in traditional farming activities.
But, one wonders just how many tourists would be willing to enter paddy fields or climb mango trees to pluck the ripening fruit, as happens in apple orchards, strawberry fields or even vineyards. This does not appear possible with the current agricultural produce that Goa produces.
But, one wonders just how many tourists would be willing to enter paddy fields or climb mango trees to pluck the ripening fruit, as happens in apple orchards, strawberry fields or even vineyards.
Theoretically, however, there could be some major benefits from agri-tourism, as it could play a major role not only in increasing farmer earnings, but also in environment conservation. The potential of agri-tourism, therefore is wide.
The first, as already mentioned, would be additional income sources for farmers, that in turn, would encourage them to retain and maintain their land, which would result in preserving Goa’s rural landscape and heritage.
Add to this rural development that would be a natural corollary of the agri-tourism.
It, however, will require consistent efforts on the part of the authorities to make it happen, and these efforts will literally have to be in the field, as merely a policy document will not serve the purpose.
Is Goa prepared to go that extra mile to make agri-tourism work?
