VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT WITH REFERENCE TO AGRO TOURISM IN MAHARASHTRA

Agro-tourism is the latest concept in the Indian tourism industry, which normally occurs on farms. It gives you the opportunity to experience the real enchanting and authentic contact with the rural life, taste the local genuine food and get familiar with the various farming tasks during the visit. Agricultural Tourism is the Holidays concept of Visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural, or agribusiness operations for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or active involvement in the activities of the farm or operation. Agro-tourism is a way of sustainable tourist development and multi-activity in rural areas through which the visitor has the opportunity to get aware with agricultural areas, agricultural occupations, local products, traditional food and the daily life of the rural people, as well as the cultural elements and traditions. Paper explains the challenges and opportunities before the farmers as a entrepreneurs in agro-tourism industry in India. Agro-Tourism has helpful to the both farmers and urban peoples. It has provided an additional income source to the farmers and employment opportunity to the family members and rural youth. But, there are some problems in the process of the development of such center. The agro-tourism may become a cash crop for the farmers in the India and also an instrument of the rural employment generation. Rural tourism showcases rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations and interactions with the tourists benefit the local community economically and socially. Some of the major tourist destinations in India are Maharashtra, Darjeeling, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Delhi, Assam, Himalaya, etc. The India has a great potential of agro-tourism due to the beautiful natural site and basic infrastructures.