Home ›› 31 Oct 2022 ›› Editorial
It was the year 2005. A friend, a resident of an ashram in Cox's Bazar's Ramu, shared his experience of spending the night at a Jhum cultivation– a traditional farming method where first the land of trees and other vegetation is cleared, burned and then cultivated for a limited number of years, area. He awoke late at night in a dark room to the sounds of wild animals in the dim light of the moon and noticed his American friend, lying next to him, was feeling the solitude of the night. Then h His courage grew, and he too learned to appreciate the solitude of the night. "I realised how artificial and imposed the life we lead that day," he said. "We never consider the primal freedom and joy that comes from living carefree in the midst of nature in the universe. And the process of producing so many different types of agricultural products in Jhum cultivation appeared to be a scientific practice. It was invented and used by a primitive human group outside of civilization."
He also encouraged me that day to spend three nights with the native tribals at a Jhum cultivation situated in a remote hill in Rangamati. Although I had gotten to know that in the nineties, many foreigners used to spend the night like this in a Jhum cultivation of this country. Jhum farming gradually decreased after 2005, and this type of excursions almost stopped.
Does this Jhum-centric business fall under agro-tourism? Some have doubts about this. However, experts say, visiting Jhum cultivations falls under agro-tourism.
History tells us that in the late 1800s, people started moving to villages to escape city life, especially the summer heat. Thus, when people go to the village, they get attracted to the farming activities there and enjoy them. It is associated with the culture of rural life. After the Second World War, this practice gradually spread across the world and thus the journey of agro-tourism began.
The father of agro tourism, Pandurang Tavare (ATDC, Pune), said while giving a definition of agro tourism, "Agro-Tourism is that agri-business activity when a native farmer or person of the area offers tours to their agriculture farm to allow a person to view them growing, harvesting, and processing locally grown foods such as coconuts, pineapple, sugarcane, corn, or any agriculture produce the person would not encounter in their city or home country. Often, the farmers would provide a home-stay opportunity and education.”
Some of the most famous examples of agro-tourism in the world are: Europe's most famous agro-tourism, Italy's Tuscany, the Spanish island of Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, and rural Taiwan's Ba Gua Tea Garden, Brazil's agricultural farms include everything from tropical fruit and flowers to sugarcane and beef cattle farms. Hawaii has pineapple farms to coffee plantations. Grenada has coca plantations, spice farms, and fruit farms, especially Belmont Estate. Other noteworthy examples of agro-tourism are California's vineyards and organic farms and the Philippines' Del Monte Pineapple Plantation Farm.
Countries like California, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Brazil are very popular for their agro-tourism. Vietnam is an agricultural country. They have made significant advances in agriculture. Tourism has also been given importance. Prioritising tourism has also been done. Around 1990, they began commercially working with agro-tourism by combining the two sectors. Vietnam is also regarded as a model in the field of agrotourism. Bangladesh might draw inspiration and ideas for agro-tourism from Vietnam since Bangladesh is also an agricultural country, and its diversity of tourism rivals that of any other country.
Tomatoes, cauliflower, and other vegetables are grown in some of Nepal's hills. There are some fantastic places to visit there. When tourists visit, the locals greet them with these agricultural products, and there are also arrangements to sell them.
Bangladesh is primarily an agricultural country. Agricultural products are produced in both the mountains and the plains. Rather, fruits and crops are produced in the mountains a month before the plains. Many hills in Bandarban are planted with jackfruit, mango, guava, pineapple, coffee, cashew nuts, pumpkin, and other crops. Bandarban's natural beauty and diversity are extraordinary. There are a few indigenous communities living there. Their social and cultural life is also vibrant. Bandarban is unparalleled in terms of mountains, springs, streams, lakes, and clouds. The environment and nature of the location of this natural environment are breathtaking. Tourists visit to see the agricultural products made there. Tourists enjoy the natural beauty as well as the taste of agricultural products or crops. If it's a fruit garden, for example, the locals will serve it attractively to tourists as soon as they see it. They are even for sale. As a result, agro-tourism is gaining more acceptances among tourists.
Agriculture officials in Bandarban say the remote areas have a lot of potential for agrotourism. They claim that, while agro-tourism has not yet developed in this area, they remain alert to its potential. They teach local or hill farmers about agrotourism while also training them in the cultivation of various fruits, crops, and vegetables. They advise them to cut guava, mango, or pineapple and serve them attractively in a bowl or cup whenever a tourist visits their area. Aside from admiring the scenery, they will learn about local fruits and crops and may be interested in purchasing them.
They also tell them that pickles, chutneys, etc. can be made from those fruits or vegetables and presented to the tourists cleanly. Jackfruit is available in the hills for twelve months. This jackfruit can be used in many ways. Many things are grown in Jhum. In the remote areas of the hills, many still practice jhum farming. Their lives are zoom-centric. They subsisted on crops produced in Jum. Only they go to the shop to buy oil and salt. Their culture and religion are related to Zoom. This matter also falls under agro-tourism. This is a wonderful aspect of agro-tourism.
Agriculture officials also say that proposals have been made to the government regarding agro-tourism. The government has not yet planned or taken any initiative in this regard. Not only Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari also have great potential for agro-tourism as the environment and cultivation of agricultural products are similar.
Not only the mountains, there is a lot of potential for agro-tourism in various parts of diverse Bangladesh. For example, excellent agro-tourism can be developed around Someshwari River and Birishiri. A beautiful agro-tourism can be developed around the mango orchards of Rajshahi, the litchi orchards of Dinajpur, the vegetable fields of Bogra and Meherpur and the arable lands of Rangpur. Besides, there are historical and archaeological sites in all these places. We can build it easily by utilising the manpower, technical aspects, training, etc. of the agriculture department of the government. As the city people will learn about rural life, the culture and daily struggles of the tribals will also be given special respect. Farmers will get additional income as it will create rural employment. Besides, those who are involved in this work will also benefit a lot.
Among the tea gardens of Sylhet, Srimangal, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar, some tea gardens are so beautiful in terms of shape and layout that agro-tourism can be developed around them. Taiwan's Ba Gua tea plantations have gained a special reputation as agro-tourism. The beauty of some tea gardens in our country is so great that they are nothing less than Gua tea gardens. Also, our country's tea is very popular. Or we can present it more beautifully in the light of our past history and tradition by taking ideas from Gua tea plantations.
Apart from this, there are several haors in Sunamganj. There is no comparison to the beauty of the haors. The matter has already come to the attention of many people in the country. A good quantity of different species of fish is available there. All those fish are very tasty. During the monsoon, when the water fills the haors, waves like at the sea are seen. It is a beauty to behold. Many go there by boat. They spend the night on the boat, and there the fishermen cook the fish and serve it to them. The whole character of agro-tourism is in hoar. Quality agro-tourism can be developed here too if properly managed.
The reputation of Bengali Hilsha fish is now increasing worldwide. A few rivers and seas, including the Padma, have some notable hubs of Hilsa. Agro-tourism can be located in places where activities such as Hilsa fishing and processing are carried out during the Hilsa season. Apart from Hilsa centric activities there, local art and cultural life can be given priority and included in agro-tourism by organising various programmes.
The number of local tourists in the country is increasing day by day. But good management has not been developed in the tourist centers compared to that fact. Although there are hotels and motels in many places, there are no such arrangements for tourists to move around comfortably. Also, the communication system is not that advanced. If we want to give importance to the issue of agro-tourism, we have to pay attention to these issues. It is known that the proposal has been sent to the government, but it is the responsibility of all concerned to implement it. If the potential of agro-tourism can be exploited, the country can attract not only domestic but also international tourists. This requires proper planning and policies. Only the will of the government can develop high-quality agro-tourism in this country, which will be able to set a precedent in the world.
The writer is a freelance columnist. She can be contacted at [email protected]
