WORLD AGRI TOURISM DAY

Warm greetings from all of us at Agri Tourism Development Corporation Baramati, India;
Just to rewind the thoughts, I want to write……
Population of India has increased five times than that existed in 1947, after partition the land got divided and subdivided per generation, currently only one fourth of the land is available on an average per person as compared to year 1947.
Agriculture as a business is becoming more and more expensive and many farmers cannot afford it. Add to this the gradual loss of fertility of land that is giving diminishing yields. Unless and until the farmers start business of any form to compliment and support to their income from land, they shall be doomed to eke out a bare existence below poverty line.
In order to encourage farmers to establish small and viable business like Agri Tourism units on the farm in the villages, ATDC has formed guidance assistance committee to tender advice and technical know how.
75 to 85 % of Indian Population lives in rural villages.
On realizing their difficulties and needs we feel there is still many things than can be done for these people.
The ATDC has been concentrating its efforts all along for the overall upliftment of the farmers in rural villages.
90% of the rural community earns it’s livelihood from agriculture directly or indirectly.
To improve the standard of living of the rural people there is need to improve and increased the per capita income from farmers land. For this new approaches beyond traditional farming will have to implement in their farms. Agri tourism is one of them.
The rural youth particularly the school drop outs and educational backward neglected rural women constitute more than 50% of our rural population. Unless we undertake welfare activity for this section of the community social upliftment remains uncompleted. We think these women can be good host and help in preparing authentic rural rustic food for the Agri Tourism guests in rural areas.
The Agri Tourism Development Corporation has always been diverting its efforts as per the changing needs of the section of the social fabric; the ATDC shall continue to do the same...
ATDC since inception have completed 4 years and on 16th May enters into 5th year, of its journey of prompting Agri Tourism to help Indian rural social economy to flourish and help rural youth to earn good respectable living in the village and farm itself .
Last 4 years saw more than 500 farmers trained under ATDC Agri tourism training program and 52 farmers from across maharashtra have started Agri tourism activity on their farms to supplement the agriculture income , to quote the example Mr. sunil bhosale from jogawadi village 40 kms from baramati have 13 acres of agriculture farm where in his annual income from the same if Rs 60 thousand , ever from last 6 months where he have consider Agri tourism activity at his farm his income from Agri tourism have been rs 45000 up till now, like sunil bhosale there are many farmers who have benefited from this Agri tourism concept , this is what ATDC ‘s objective is, As you know the farm income in India is only once or max twice in the year, but the expenses are recurring , our Indian farmers need such income source which will compensate and reimburse the recurring expenses of the farming activity . so as to make the agriculture produce as net income to the our farmer
This is happening now, the entire India is speaking the Agri Tourism language, the media, academics, farmer’s institutes, government departments, and urban tourists have started endorsing the Idea of Agri Tourism.
To take the Agri Tourism next level we have decided to celebrate this founder day of 16th May as “World Agri Tourism Day” hence forth, every year.
The Agriculture Minister, Tourism Minister of Maharashtra has accepted our invitation to grace the occasion and our Minister for Irrigation Hon’ble Ajitdada Pawar and Moyor of Pune will grace the award ceremony and concluding ceremony.
This year onwards ATDC will honor 10 awardees as sate level “ KRUSHI PARYATAN GAURAV” purushakar considering all those Individual persons, Academic Institutes, Travel Magazines, Publications, successful Farmers, Press Journalists , Travel Writers , Tourists communities , Farmers Institutes etc who have made the significant contribution to promote and showcase the Agri Tourism concept to the World. Without their contribution the Agriculture Tourism concept will be no where.

The function is for full day organized at Pune, India on 16th May Friday at BalGandharva Rang Mandir, J.M.Road, Pune – 411004

The program is as follows:

12:15 hrs – opening ceremony.
13:00 hrs - mouth watering lunch with Pitla- Bhakari – thecha as menu.
14:00 hrs – lectures on “What it needs to start the Agri Tourism?” Speakers from various government departments will speak on this
16:00 hrs closing ceremony, with award function.
18:00 hrs entering program of Marathi rural folk music and dances.
We want your guidance on this issue of World Agri Tourism Day and on how we take this day to the entire world.
In the very first year of 2008, we have considered 10 awardees for their unending contribution to promote and guide Agri Tourism concept.
We request you to be present and grace the occasion of 16th May 2008 in Pune, India .
Warm regards
Yours truly
Pandurang Taware
Director
Marketing & Sales
ATDC Baramati, India.