HYDERABAD: Agriculture extension experts, economists and research scholars asked the government to develop policy and its implementation for agri tourism development focusing attention on wide use of natural resources, sustainable development, better environment for livelihood, promotion of cultural heritage and income generation for the rural population.

They were speaking at the 6th National Agri Tourism Conference, organized jointly by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam and Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) on Monday at the university premises.

The speakers said agri tourism offers new sources of revenue to farmers, who may earn more profit through value addition of products, instead of depending usual yields of crops.

SAU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zaheeruddin Mirani said previously the university's horticulture was a picnic resort, where people used to come and enjoy greenery. He said they are working on different aspects to promote agri tourism and will allow citizens and families to visit and stay over there to enjoy holidays and weekends with children. He asked the government and investors to collaborate for promoting agri tourism and make the horticulture garden further scenic.

Agriculture Research Sindh DG Noor Muhammad Baloch urged the need for coordination between the stakeholders, including urban citizens and agriculture farmers, allowing families with children to visit food crops. He said many children in major cities as well as in villages do not know how vegetables and fruit are grown, which they consume lovingly.

Nabi Bux Sathio of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture and a grower of Tando Muhammad Khan said agriculture is backbone of the country economy, but the government seems reluctant to promote it. He also announced to convert his 36-acre agriculture farm in to a tourism place, which is lying between the famous picnic resort Keenjhar Lake and Karachi city.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020