The frescoed havelis of Nawalgarh, the native land of the Sekhawat Rajputs in Rajasthan, once drew tourists from France and Italy — places known for magnificent art forms. Now visitors, coming from nations across the world and parts of India, look beyond palatial family homes, mural paintings and exotic cuisines. To be precise, globetrotters are increasingly preferring a farmer’s thatched hut to an ornate 18th century sandstone and marble mansion. “So far, we’ve hosted couples from France and Germany. They stay with us, work with us and try to understand the way we farm,” says Manoj Sharma, a farmer belonging to the expanding community of organic agriculturists.
If not a standalone celebrated trend, organic farm tourism is the latest value addition to the mega trend of rural or agri-tourism. Visitors watch organic pesticides and manure (from vermi-composting) being made, they take walks and just generally enjoy nature. “The food we serve our guests is completely organic,” says Sharma, adding, “Through this type of farming, we have also reported higher volume produce. Since these commodities are niche, the buyers come to us.”
Observers say that most organic farm travellers come from abroad, but now domestic tourists, especially from Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat, are also taking an interest in organic farm tourism. “This trend has caused our Foundation to launch a dedicated tour programme of Shekhawati linked with organic farms and farming,” says Verdhman Bapna, General Manager-Coordination, Morarka Foundation, an organisation that runs retail stores selling organic produce.
While the attraction for natural farming is also picking up in the Faridkot, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab with a few random attempts in other Indian states, organic farm tourism is certainly making its presence felt in the West. Huntstile Organic Farm in Somerset, UK, has been reporting over a hundred per cent increase in enquiries about its farm-stay accommodation. Tourists are young families with children, who come to see where their food comes from and learn about how it is grown. The farm’s attractions include rustic self-catering cottages, an organic dairy farm, home-cooked breakfast and activities that include walking, cycling, fishing and falconry. There is also a school for those interested in knowing more about the process.
Cut to Brazil, where pro-organic companies are developing a project to support the cultivation of organic medicinal and beauty herbs, besides inviting consumers to check out operations. The need: to be transparent about organic raw materials and production processes, and spread awareness about them. “Known worldwide for our organic cosmetics, organic farm tourism reinforces our ‘image’ throughout the world. Not only does this lead to brand awareness, but also to consumer awareness. Besides, it is also our prime objective to educate people about the negative consequences of consuming products from conventional and chemical-laden farms,” says Fernanda Drumond, Marketing and Sales Manager, Surya Brasil.
While experts say that organic farm tourism is increasing, they look forward to more farms joining the movement and to governments developing infrastructure to manage this budding interest. “To begin with, the Union Tourism Department should develop an online platform for tourists, who want to have such experiences and detail the farms and services we have,” says Bapna. The trend certainly looks set to evince more and more interest as it spreads around the world.