AGRITOURISM: A NEW PROSPECT FOR BANGLADESH'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

Mahin Jamal, Session 2017-2018, Department of Finance  

During our childhood, we would spend Eid or summer and winter vacations alternately at our grandparents' homes in the village. There, we would swim in ponds and reservoirs, catch fish, and gather fresh greens to savor later with steaming rice for lunch. Watching our uncles working in the fields was fascinating, and sometimes, we even joined in. They would climb trees to pick fruits like palm or coconuts for us to enjoy.

We herded goats and cows in the open fields, flew kites, and spent afternoons boating or visiting local markets and fairs. The taste of dishes cooked on clay stoves or the unique flavors of pitha and payesh made from freshly harvested rice was unforgettable. We often climbed trees to pluck and instantly relish our favorite mangoes and jackfruits.

Winter mornings were made special with fresh date juice, and when hunger struck, we would pull fresh tomatoes, carrots, or radishes straight from the fields to eat. Some of these goodies would be brought back home with us. After the holidays, we returned to the city with rejuvenated spirits, ready to dive back into our routines.

These aren’t just cherished memories; they are examples of Agritourism. This concept has been a part of our lives for generations. As an agricultural nation, Bangladeshi farmers can also adopt agritourism as a means of supplementary income. All that is needed is support from the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, a sustainable business model, and professional management to turn this idea into a thriving venture.

What is Agritourism?

Agritourism is a model where farms or agricultural lands are used not only for producing crops, fruits, or raising livestock for sale but also for hosting, entertaining, and offering agricultural training to visitors in exchange for payment. This concept introduces people to the rural culture and the simplicity of its lifestyle firsthand. It fosters a connection between people and agriculture, offering a unique experience of rural life.

Agritourism can take various forms, such as educational tours of fields or animal farms, volunteer tourism, leisure stays or visits, camping, safari park trips, or explorations in wildlife sanctuaries for research purposes. Even hosting weddings in rural farms or guesthouses styled as traditional village ceremonies (destination weddings) falls under agritourism.

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD) broadly categorizes agritourism into five segments, summarized as follows:

Direct Consumer Sales: This refers to tourist visits to locations where they can directly purchase freshly produced goods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses, eggs, milk, ghee, meat, or handcrafted items. Alternatively, visitors can harvest their preferred crops or produce directly from the fields and pay the farmers accordingly. Rural markets, where farmers and tourists from distant places gather for buying and selling, also fall under this category.                                                     

Agricultural Education: Students visit local farms or fields for educational tours, while adults often come to gain knowledge and experience related to agriculture or for research purposes. In such cases, the farmers themselves or their assistants act as educators.

       

Hospitality: Tourists stay directly at village farmhouses, enjoying rural hospitality and experiencing traditional lifestyles. They often participate in various agricultural activities, such as animal care, milking cows, planting saplings, harvesting crops, or other farm-related tasks.

                                  

 

Recreation: Recreational activities include horseback riding, elephant rides, hunting expeditions, and visits to safari parks. Here, "hunting" doesn’t mainly refers to animal hunting rather collecting items like honey, leaves, roots, or searching for rare animals, fishing, and other engaging activities.               

Entertainment: While entertainment is a common element in all these experiences, this category is

distinct. This type of agritourism is more popular in Western countries, featuring activities such as tractor rides and hayrides—leisure trips in hay-filled carts through rural areas. Hayrides, in particular, are a favorite among all ages and are especially popular during Halloween celebrations.                             

 

Benefits of Agritourism

Agritourism is essentially a fusion of agriculture and tourism industries, aimed at addressing various challenges faced by both sectors. In agriculture, issues such as farmers not receiving fair prices for their products, lack of adequate exposure for their goods, and difficulties in transportation and storage are prevalent. On the tourism side, problems like over-tourism at certain destinations, ticket shortages, and a lack of affordable and suitable accommodations are commonly observed. As a result, the peaceful and relaxing travel experiences that tourists often seek can sometimes become exhausting.

In recent times, many travelers are showing a preference for offbeat locations, avoiding overcrowded tourist hubs to enjoy their vacations more peacefully.

Farmers can implement agritourism individually or collaboratively through diverse activities. This not only ensures they remain engaged during the off-season but also allows them to fund their farming activities through additional income, creating a self-funded farming model. Meanwhile, tourists discover unique entertainment options, rural areas retain their authenticity, people gain insights into local culture, and the tourism industry experiences growth

Innovative Agritourism Models: Combining Farming with Tourism for Sustainable Growth

In addition to farming, farmers can develop multiple small-scale models to generate income. Examples include:

1. Farm-to-Table Restaurant: Establishing a restaurant where tourists can enjoy fresh, home-cooked meals and traditional delicacies like pithas prepared by local women.
2. Recreational Activities: Organizing entertainment options such as boat rides, traditional games, rural attire experiences, folk music performances, theatrical plays (yatra pala), and celebrations of cultural festivals like Nabanna.
3. Rustic Accommodations: Offering tourists a place to rest and stay for a few days in structures made of clay, tin, or thatched roofs, reflecting the rural aesthetic.
4. Farm-Based Shops: Setting up stores where tourists can purchase freshly harvested produce, farm goods, and handmade items crafted by local women.
5. Training Centers: Establishing centers where certified trainers can assist aspiring entrepreneurs with financial resources and interest in creating comprehensive agritourism models but lacking expertise or guidance. These centers can also provide various training programs to help farmers enhance their skills.

It is important to note that not all these models need to be implemented for agritourism to succeed. With proper planning, even one or two of these concepts can create a sustainable business.

One unique feature of agritourism is the practice of crop rotation, which involves cultivating different crops and vegetables on the same land across seasons. For example, sunflower fields in summer and mustard flowers in winter create visually dynamic landscapes, offering tourists a changing and captivating experience. This feature is absent in static structures like resorts, distinguishing agritourism from conventional resort businesses.

Agritourism in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s diverse landscapes offer immense possibilities for agritourism, with various activities that can be incorporated into potential destinations:

1. Nijhum Dwip, Noakhali: Experiencing the serene natural beauty and traditional farming practices.
2. Tea Estates in Sylhet, Srimangal, Panchagarh, and Chattogram: Visiting tea gardens and factories, participating in tea cultivation, and enjoying tea-tasting sessions.
3. Hill Tracts: Immersing in the local lifestyle, observing jhum cultivation, and participating in traditional agricultural methods.
4. Sundarbans: Engaging in honey collection, observing wildlife and forest flora, and learning traditional fishing techniques.
5. Chandpur: Joining fishermen during the ilish (Hilsa fish) season to catch, purchase, and savor freshly caught fish.
6. Coastal Regions: Observing the drying process of shutki (dried fish), tasting it, and purchasing it fresh.
7. Rajshahi: Visiting mango and lychee orchards during the season, buying fresh produce, exploring silk production from silkworms, and learning about the Santali indigenous community’s lifestyle.
8. Tangail: Staying with weavers, witnessing the process of thread and sari weaving, and gaining hands-on knowledge about traditional textile craftsmanship.
9. Jessore’s Godkhali: Touring the vibrant flower gardens and appreciating the beauty of seasonal blooms.
10. Floating Market in Bhimruli, Jhalakathi: Exploring the largest floating market on the Kirtonkhola River, famous for selling guavas.

In collaboration with locals, entire villages can even be transformed into tourist spots, showcasing rural life in its purest form.

Although agritourism in Bangladesh is still in its early stages, it holds immense potential. Three years ago, a college student established an agritourism initiative in the capital, which has since become a popular and profitable business. The authentic environment of Bangladesh and the simplicity of rural life are now a source of entertainment not only for domestic tourists but also for travel enthusiasts from abroad.

A young entrepreneur from Narsingdi has chosen tourism as his profession and has been working for years to showcase the beauty of his village to the world by establishing an online-based tourism organization. Through this initiative, foreign tourists are enjoying organized tours to remote villages across Bangladesh. They now eagerly explore Bangladesh’s remote villages, embracing its unspoiled nature and simple lifestyle for a few days. The warm hospitality of the villagers has made these experiences even more memorable, generating significant economic benefits for the local communities.

Key Initiatives and Potential Impact

Establishing more agritourism centers like these may significantly boost the country’s tourism sector. To initiate the implementation of this model, a widespread campaign is needed across villages with the support of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation. Local residents should be trained, with a special focus on marketing skills. Additionally, rural banks should offer specialized low-interest loans dedicated to this sector.

As part of a well-structured plan, tourism centers could be strategically established in various regions, each offering unique experiences to visitors. Once agritourism achieves success, rural residents would no longer need to migrate to cities for livelihoods. Young individuals could return to their ancestral farmlands after completing their education or lease land to begin agritourism ventures. Existing businesses could be further developed by incorporating modern technologies.

This would reduce unemployment, increase job opportunities in rural areas, and empower the village communities. It is essential to recognize that the prosperity of farmers directly correlates with the progress of the nation. Such remarkable model not only reconnects people with the soil but also preserves local culture, brings smiles to farmers' faces, and contributes to building a prosperous Sonar Bangla.