Cottoning on to the trend in the rest of the state, the Kolhapur zilla parishad has decided to jump onto the agri-tourism bandwagon in a bid to promote tourism in the district. What’s refreshing about the Kolhapur initiative — and what would possibly be its USP — is its low-cost structure, with an inviting tariff of Rs 200-a-day per person that clearly targets the city-slickers during weekends.

Putting together a plan for city-weary visitors, the authorities have come up with a scheme that includes glimpses of village life, a first-hand experience of farming procedures, visits to sugarcane, wheat and rice fields, a sampling of farm-fresh products like jaggery, bullock cart and tractor rides. The rural and agricultural development department of the zilla parishad is promoting the scheme.

“This opens up new avenues for farmers to increase their earnings. Our role will be to guide farmers at the inception and work as a promoting agency by advertising the scheme. We plan to introduce the project to various tourist agencies in Pune and Mumbai,” said Dilip Jadhav, CEO of the zilla parishad.

Twenty-two farmers who can provide lodging and boarding and who are into innovative farming have been selected under the programme.

“Tourists visit our farm regularly. This scheme has shown us a new way of enhancing our earning and making the whole concept more professional,” said Tanaji Nikam, a farmer from Vannur village in Kagal taluka who plans to develop some 20 acres of his land for agri-tourism.

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