According to the blueprint prepared by the department, preference will be given to farms which have agricultural land attached. An inspection committee of the department will visit the farmhouse to see whether it can be recommended for registration with the department. The team will include a representative from the respective Deputy Commissioner’s office, Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Gurdaspur and other departments concerned. Reddy says once a farmhouse is recommended, the owners will be given in situ training by experts from IHM. Reddy agrees that Punjabis are known for their warmth and hospitality. “Our effort will be to supplement and enhance their efforts,” he points out. The quality of services offered by farmhouses will be verified by Punjab Tourism.

The blueprint specifies that only those farmhouses will be registered with the department that have “a minimum of two rooms with toilet and provide full meal service”. The farmhouses will be classified in three categories— middle class, upper middle class, and high-end farms.

The scheme encourages owners of farmhouses to give visitors exposure to local community life, organise a village tour for them, and ensure diverse and uniquely rural experiences.The department expects that the activity will result in generation of employment and additional income for farmhouse owners, and also villagers. The department will only be a facilitator for giving a boost to farm tourism. It will neither fix the rates to be charged by owners of farmhouses nor charge any revenue.

The department will also advertise its farm tourism venture. It plans to launch a website for farm tourism and link it to its main tourism site. Some other farm tourism ventures, like the Ladhran Fort near Samrala, promoted by Soumindra Guron, are also gaining through word-of-mouth publicity.