Agro-tourism: Prospective future of Nepal 💚❤

 Agrotourism is new concept and rapidly growing at the international level. Being an agrarian country and having diverse geography from himalayas to tarai, Nepal has immense potential for agro-tourism and economic development. As agriculture has significant contribution to national GDP contribution, it would create synergetic effect on national income if both agriculture and tourism practices in integrated way. Because of having enchanting terraces, beautiful mountains and himalayas, streams and rich biodiversity; Nepal possess a great value for tourism and agriculture promotion.  

               Photo : Nepalese secic beauty, source: Various internet search

Agro-tourism is rapidly attracting concern globally and many countries such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia have already taken into action to promote agro-tourism for economic benefit. Even Though, Nepal has immense potential, there is not enough understanding for agro-tourism concept. To some extent, Nepal also has recognized the concept of agro-tourism but not enough.

👉Potential of agrotourism💦

Nepal is one of the popular tourist destination since ancient time. Rich in biological diversity, beautiful natural resources and diverse culture have already taken heart of many foreign and domestic tourist. However, many of Nepalese hills and mountain geography is untouched from tourist as these ranges have similar terraces and village, but rich in cultures and biodiversity. Many of the mid-hills, mountains and himalayas have diverse tradition, culture plus locals do have ancient way of making handicrafts from agro-bio products such. In addition, these local people are using traditional way of cultivation using traditional agro-tools such as wooden plough, spades, ploughing behind oxes and using traditional raincoat made from bamboo and large leaves. These kind of handicrafts, traditional way of farming plus traditional agri-tools could be interesting things to attract tourist in this chaotic environment. Raising large flocks of sheeps, yaks and transhuman system in mid to high hills are another potential attraction to tourist as well. Eye soothing greenery on large lawns in high hills,  small and narrow terraces with rice plants, cool high falls and freshwater streams are eye catching scenery are potential tourist attraction points, where tourist come every year to trek over these areas, there is great potential to integrate agriculture together to get maximum socio-economic benefit. 

In plain tarai area, there is possibility of mechanization. The large rice field, vegetable fields and green scenic beauty of growing fields have additional potential value to attract tourist in these areas. As Nepalese agriculture is widely distributed from cereals, vegetables to cattles, forestry and fisheries. Tarai area has great potential to attract tourist from exploring large cereals and vegetable farms, developing large fishing ponds, exploring integrated agroforestry models and introducing riding service to observe between farms.

Photo: Agro-tourism activity, source: Flicker

👉Why agro-tourism 👀 ?

Hills and mountain agriculture is hardship because of high labour demanding cultivation system. because of less potential for mechanization, agriculture in these areas are highly labouris and hardship, therefore, economic return from agriculture in theses areas is not profitable enough, and/or sometime goes just subsistent. To improve socio-economic benefits, to earn extra income and to put our original farming system in existence with high value. Agro-tourism can be additionally use to convince and inspire local farmers to raise crops and animals in an eco-friendly manner to conserve agri-biodiversity.

In another hnd, tourism is high revenue generation source and it increase foreign currency exchange. Therefore, agro-tourism can come as panacea for the country like Nepal suffering hardship to raise national finance system. Government can earn money from VISA, tax, fee and royalty from foreign tourist and increase national finance growth, in another hand we can utilize our less productive agriculture system in hills and mountains and simultaneously we can preserve our tradition (traditional system of cultivation and traditional tools), culture and customs. Our cultures and customs could go generation after generation. 

 

💚How can we promote agro-tourism?🙌

👉Establishing more large scale open farm in Tarai such as rice, vegetable farms open for tourist

👉Establishing large scale tea and coffee farming in hills like Kanyam Team state

👉Establishing of integrated tea and forestry in Tarai regions

👉Promoting home stay and local culture

👉Promoting local agro-products such as local butter, cheeses, chhurpi vegetables and indigenous crops

👉Establish trekking route in hills and mountains between terraces and contours

👉Integration of forestry and agriculture, develop site visit option with local riding vehicles such as 'goru gaada' 

👉Promoting local handicrafts made from agro-bioproducts such as mats from rice straw, small mat from maize and rice straw, hats from straws, wooden mats, bags from straws, pashmina from goat wools, woolen knitted materials 

👉Rainbow trout and other freshwater fish farming with integrating hotels

👉Terrace and contour farming in hills

👉Increase site seigh venues on hills, mountains and tarai, that should be design to capture main farming season

👉Celebrating plantation and harvesting of crops such as Ashar-15 as rice transplantation day and Maghi as harvesting day

👉Promoting local foods

Let's move together for change in Nepalese agriculture and Nepalese economy 💚