'Stay in hut, till the land': Come experience rural life at RARS- promoted Agri-tourism facility in Chintapalle
It is aimed to serve a dual purpose of supporting the income of farmers and creating a novel concept for tourists looking to detox in natural settings.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 8 Nov 2022 9:56 AM GMT
ASR district: Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Chintapalle, has launched agri-tourism to attract visitors who want to detox away from the maddening crowd.
Probably it is the first time in Andhra Pradesh, the agri-tourism concept has been introduced by RARS-Chintapalle.
It is aimed to serve a dual purpose of supporting the income of farmers and creating a novel concept for tourists looking to detox in natural settings.
Under the new concept, tourists shall be taken to a farm. They will be allowed to try hands on farming. Guests will be served local cuisine.
Associate Director of Research, RARS, Dr. M Suresh Kumar said Chintapalle, Lammasingi, and Tajangi have been attracting tourists during the winter season.
"We have initiated the agri-tourism at RARS-Chintapalle in September this year. The concept will be introduced in Lammasingi, Tajangi, Kothapalli, and a few other places. Its objective is to create a homely feel in natural settings," he added.
As a first step towards boosting agri-tourism, gardens with Gladiolus, Tulips, China aster, Marigold, and Oriental and Asiatic liliums were grown at RARS.
Perennial stream exists on the RARS campus and a group of tourists (mostly families of 10 to 12 members can stay at RARS Chintapalle). On average during the weekends, over 100 people visit RARS for agri-tourism, and soon school children, and students of various colleges will visit to explore agri-tourism.
"Slowly but surely the agri-tourism will prove to be a game changer for the tribal youth and farmers," Suresh Kumar added.
The agri-tourism project provides edutainment to the visitors showing the concepts of agriculture, bringing the future generation close to nature, giving hands of experience in farming-related activities, showing organic cultivation of various crops, floriculture with exotic flowers, the conversation of medicinal and aromatic plants, integrated farming systems, millet museum and many more.
A Telugu movie Maharshi showcased the weekend farming concept which became popular with the techies and other professionals and inspired them to volunteer and help farmers in their work. The agri-tourism will create a marketing facility in the tribal pockets and the tribals will get a good amount for their organic produce, the experts opined.
