APTDC identifies Adarana as agri-tourism centre

Anantapur: Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has come up with a unique concept of agri-tourism to promote rural tourism and would be showcasing integrated lush green horticulture farms, dairy, fishing, vegetable poly houses having even guest houses for tourists to stay for a couple of days or more and to get exposure to rural rustic life and natural environment and also to rural eateries reminding one of the days of our grandmothers and fathers.

Visits to identified farms in the district would be planned during festivals, weekly shandies involving local festivals and people who are bored going to hill stations and live in air-conditioned facilities will have a very different feel of the enchanting beauties of mother-nature and the rural ambience.

The APTDC has identified Adarana Farms in the district to promote the same as an agri-tourism centre along with several other farms in the district.

It is planning to train 100 progressive farmers doing horticulture, organic farming, dairy fish farming and poly house vegetable and flower cultivation across the district to start and operate agri-tourism centres in next 2 to 3 years.

Adarana Farms Chairman Ramakrishna speaking to The Hans India stated that his farm was identified as the first agri-tourism centre which has all the facilities to showcase it as a agriculture rural tourist centre which is an integration of agriculture, horticulture and allied activities including fish farming, goat and sheep rearing, dairy and even fish farming apart from guest houses to accommodate tourists in its lush green 100-acre farm in Rapthadu village in the district.

Other potential places like Penukonda, Madakasira, Sanjeevapuram, Bukkapatnam and Narasimpalle etc have been identified for promotion as tourist centres. Kallur is another place which has a large fish farm in 50 acres which is feasible for tourism project.

Irrigation projects like MPR Dam, Jeedipaill, Korakolla and Gollapalli reservoirs can be part of the tourism circuit.

Kadiri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple, Lepakshi temple, Kasapuram temple, Gudibanda fort, Rayadurg fort, Penukonda fort and Gooty fort etc can be integrated into the tourist circuit.

The objective is to generate additional income to farmers, who throw open their well developed farms to tourists.

The concept is to train the farmers into tourist guides who would explain to the tourists about the rural culture and traditions.