Agri & Rural Tourism-a tool for socio-economic sustainability of mankind.

 

Agri & Rural Tourism-a tool for socio-economic sustainability of mankind.

In 2019 we have celebrated, 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi gave us many things for the future, but the most important message was to go to the village. Although this message has been ignored by the Indians, the capitalism of the world has not neglected the Indian rural market at all, and hence in today's remote rural villages, you will find international branded goods and services in this market. There is no denying that the people of India, from urban to rural areas, have been looking at it from the perspective of a foreign country for the last 30-40 years. If this were not the case, then tourism-oriented concepts like agri and rural tourism would not have taken root and grown in agrarian India. 

But in fact, a very good thing happened, and the city and the village began to be connected. What is the source of your food for people of all ages living in the city? Which tree does what we eat come from? In what soil does it grow? All this was helped through agri and rural tourism. At the same time, a strong alternative emerged through agri and rural tourism to experience a few days of relaxation from the usual fast-paced and stressful life in the city. It happened on the urban side. The concept of agri and rural tourism has enabled rural farmers, self-help groups, small and large scale cottage industries to reach their homes through a vibrant market. While farming, there are many problems to be faced, in which agri and rural tourism can be looked at as a source of complementary and sustainable income. It happened in terms of finance. Once the economy is achieved, even if we say roughly that we have developed, this development, this prosperity, this perfection is not. When we look at tourism from the perspective of agri and rural tourism, it is worthwhile to think about the exact definition of rural prosperity. The concept of self-sufficient village in Mahatma Gandhi's interpretation was not just about semantics. Village prosperity means that the economy will become very shallow. Overall self-sufficiency is very important. The development of a territory means all-round development. Then if there is prosperity in it which is complemented by many organs like economics, sociology, education, health, social security, pollution free, cultural awareness, social consciousness, then we can call it eternal village prosperity.

Then, in our village, in our area, when the concept of agri and rural tourism is growing or when agri and rural tourism is developing, it is necessary to consider whether rural prosperity is being achieved in the true sense. If this idea is in the development of agri and rural tourism, then it can be called responsible tourism. This responsibility is not only to run the tourism business, but in that connection, the visitors coming to our tourist center should have a proper understanding of all the things like agriculture, farmers, village, village structure. Guests should be able to experience the rural culture. They should understand rural India. They need to know the problems here, the current situation here, and the opportunities here. The feeling that urban and rural is not against each other. If the visitors to your agri and rural tourism center are ignorant about agriculture and village, then your responsibility as an agri and rural tourism concept driver becomes very important. In such a case, just sell Hurda, sit in the bullock cart, let the chicken mutton on the stove, dance, they should not get involved in such a narrow thing in rain dance, agri and rural tourism. 

The concept of agri and rural tourism should be seen as a mirror of rural areas. The India of the villages is changing; we should allow this change to be experienced by the visitors through agri and rural tourism. If this is to be done, for the first time, an agri and rural tourism center will have to be set up which is connected with the local soil, culture, folk art and food culture. You have to build genuine agro-tourism concepts without setting up concepts in the minds of urban people, not just commercial markets, then you have to study for it, you have to visit other agro-tourism centers, you have to study the local culture. If you look at it like that, people don't have any habits, they have to get used to it. Then it doesn't make sense that we have built commercial tourism because people want it. Raise the concept of tourism from your study, convince people of its importance, get used to it, people will start coming to you. Once the concept of agri and rural tourism is born out of this sentiment, if agri-tourism is started with this sentiment, then one day the gap between city and village will surely narrow and good things will go hand in hand. It should be kept in mind that the concept of agri and rural tourism is enjoyable, it has the opportunity to have fun on the farm but at the same time it is a means of connecting the umbilical cord to the soil.

Many examples can be given of exactly what kind of village prosperity is achieved through agri and rural tourism, for example, local artisans use their skills to set up agricultural and rural tourism centers. Once the agri-tourism center was set up, the manpower required for its management, cooking, weeding, cleaning was available from the local villages and alternatively employment was created. For the entertainment of the urban guests, the folk artists of the village who perform arts like Jagran, Gondhal, Povada, Bharud get a kind of platform, along with the honorarium, the art also gets respect. The next generation will cherish this artistic heritage. Through the tourists who come, there is a live market to buy agricultural produce grown on the farms of the agri-tourism center or in the surrounding fields. Not only can that, but the chain of sale of processed farm produce stand on this occasion. In a village where there is agri-tourism, a platform is created for the sale of goods made from the movement of women self-help groups. People who work at the agri-tourism center enjoy the company of urban visitors, which enhances positive things like communication skills, confidence, understanding of the world, personality development. 

Our old people used to tell us to travel the world and get wisdom, through agri and rural tourism, every holiday from all over the world, people come to your tourist center, you stay at home, and you get an idea of​what is going on in the world with money. If someone comes from far away to look after their farm, then the confidence of farmers to grow a good farm grows. The visitors from the city understand the hard work of the farmers; appreciate them, in short, take note of the work. While chatting with the tourists, realizing how fast the glittering city is, how the work is done there, how happy we are where we are, in a sense we start looking at our own life with a positive feeling. We also see opportunities in our lives, so we don't have to leave the village and go to the city. I give earthen bulls as a return gift to visitors to my tourist center. I make this bull from a potter from a nearby village. Once a guest from Singapore came, Kumbhardada had brought a bull. He gave the oxen to the guests with his own hands, I took their photos, that photo is enlarged in the house of the potter grandfather today, he proudly shows it to the people who come to him. 

Gondhalibuwa, who presents Jagran Gondhal folk art, enchants the guests with his invention of art and makes them keep pace. He used to work in Jaimalhar series as well as in films got a chance. The opinion of the village peddlers has come on Trip Advisor, the farmers who bring their produce to the weekly market are selling vegetables to the guests. Tourists are coming again and again to eat the famous misal of the village. Visitors are visiting schools here, interacting with students, trying to help them in different ways. Tourists are guiding local youth on what opportunities are currently available in the area where they are working. There are so many things that can be listed that are happening with the establishment of agri and rural tourism centers. As far as I know, any agri and rural tourism center run with social commitment and responsibility will not only benefit the farmer financially but also facilitate his overall development. And the same feeling will be with the surrounding social situation. Abroad, 2-3% of the people depend on agriculture; there is a large urban class. They have the concept of agri-tourism as a social need. Although 50% of our people depend on agriculture and 70% live in villages, agri and rural tourism have become a socio-economic necessity for all Indians. As the unemployment crisis deepens, agri and rural tourism can be seen as areas with potential for rapid job creation. This is the way to achieve social development through tourism. If rural India is to become self-sufficient and prosperous, the concept of agri and rural tourism must be supported at all levels.

Manoj Hadwale (Author is post graduate in agriculture, right now state tourism trainer for Directorate of Tourism, Govt of Maharashtra & tourism consultant since 2015. He is founder director of Parashar agri & culture Tourism-a project by Hachiko Tourism. He has initiated agritourism based responisble tourism movemnet of Junnar tahsil of Pune district since 2011 )

Founder- Junnar Tourism Development Orgunization

Director- Parashar Agriculture and Rural Tourism, Junnar

09970515438/07038890500

manoj@hachikotourism.in

 

मी जुंदरी.....आणि माझा जुन्नर....!

 

मी जुंदरी.....आणि माझा जुन्नर....!

दंडकारण्य असलेला भुभाग जेव्हा नागरी वस्तीखाली येऊ लागला, तेव्हा महाराष्ट्र नावाचा प्रदेश भौगोलिक दृष्ट्या अस्तित्वात आला. सातवाहन राजे हे महाराष्ट्राचे पहिले राजे. साधारण २५०० वर्षापूर्वीचा कालखंड असेल तो. महाराष्ट्र तेव्हा समृद्धीच्या शिखरावर होता. प्रतिष्ठान [आताचे पैठण] ही सातवाहन राजांची राजधानी आणि तगर (आताचे तेर), जीर्णनगर [आताचे जुन्नर] ही काही व्यापारी केंद्रे. त्या काळी जगभरातील व्यापारी, कल्याण, नालासोपारा बंदरावर आपला माल घेऊन उतरत असत. मग नाणे घाट मार्गे ते घाटमाथ्यावर येऊन जुन्नर मार्गे पैठणला व्यापार करत करत जात असत. तेव्हाचे नाणे घाटातील कर आकारणीचे दगडी रांजण आजही इतिहास जीवंत करत; नाणे घाटात विराजमान आहेत. म्हणजे कल्याण- नाणेघाट- जुन्नर- नगर- पैठण हा महाराष्ट्रातील प्राचीन व्यापारी मार्ग होता. मग साहजिकच या मार्गावरील जुन्नर, बोरी, नगर, पैठण सारख्या बाजारपेठा तेव्हापासूनच प्रसिध्द होत्या. हा व्यापार उदीम वाढत जावा, आपल्या प्रदेशाची अशीच भरभराट होत राहावी म्हणुन या व्यापारीमार्गाच्या संरक्षणासाठी त्या त्या वेळच्या राजवटींनी ठिकठिकाणी सैनिकी चौक्या उभारल्या ज्या काळासोबत किल्ल्यांच्या स्वरुपात बदलत गेल्या. नाणेघाट मार्गे येत असताना, जुन्नरच्या  डोंगराळ भागातुन जाताना लुटमारीपासुन बचाव करण्यासाठी भैरवगड, जीवधन, चावंड, हडसर, निमगिरी, शिवनेरी, नारायणगड, शिंदोळा या सारख्या किल्ल्यांची निर्मिती झाली. 

  

 

देशविदेशातून येणारे व्यापारी त्यांची संस्कृती पण सोबत घेऊन यायचे, म्हणुनच जुन्नरमध्ये डेक्कन कॉलेजचे विद्यार्थी उत्खनन करत असताना ग्रीक लोकांची देवता "युरोस" ची मुर्ती सापडते, चीनी भांडी, जुनी नाणी, सोन्याचा मोहरा, शीला लेख असे खुप काही सापडते. येणारे व्यापारी मुक्त हस्ताने दान करत असत. त्यामुळे प्रत्येक धर्माची, धर्मपिठाची भरभराट जुन्नर परिसरात झाली. भौगोलिक अनुकूलता आणि त्याला राजाश्रायासोबत लोकाश्रय पण जुन्नर परिसरात मिळत गेला. आणि म्हणुनच जुन्नरमध्ये भारतातील सर्वात जास्त म्हणजे ३५० च्या आसपास लेणी खोदल्या गेल्या. 

लेण्याद्री, तुळजा लेणी, भीमाशंकर लेणी, भूतलिंग लेणी, आंबा अंबिका लेणी, सुलेमान लेणी, तसेच जवळपास सर्वच किल्ल्यांवरील लेणी समूह अशा विविध ठिकाणी या ३५० लेण्या विभागलेल्या आहेत. प्राचीन जैन मंदिर उभारले गेले, मध्ययुगीन काळात लेण्याद्रीच्या बौद्ध लेण्यांमध्ये गिरिजात्मक गणपतीची स्थापना झाली, पेशवे काळात ओझरच्या विघ्नहराचा जीर्णोद्धार झाला, ओतुर सारख्या ठिकाणी वैष्णव पंथाचा रामकृष्ण हरी हा मंत्र, संत तुकारामांना त्यांचे गुरु चैतन्य महाराजांनी दिला, संत ज्ञानेश्वरांनी आपल्या रेड्याला आळे गावी समाधी दिली, पिंपळगाव धरणाजवळ खुबी गावात, कळू नदीच्या काठावर; खिरेश्वराचे मंदिर, पूर गावात कुकडी नदीच्या उगस्थानाजवळ हेमाडपंती कुकडेश्वर मंदिर आणि मीना नदीच्या काठावर वडज गावाजवळ पारुंडे या ठिकाणी ब्रम्हनाथी मंदिराची निर्मिती झाली. 

हि सगळी मंदिरे यादव राजा झंज याच्या काळात उभारण्यात आलीत. खिरेश्वराच्या उत्तरेला हरिश्चंद्र गडाची अभेद्य वास्तू उभी राहिली. काळाच्या ओघात खुप काही बदलत गेले, अनेक राजवटी आल्या..गेल्या...वैभव ओसंडून वाहू लागले आणि त्याला आटही आली. शेकडो वर्ष वैभव अनुभवत असलेले लोक कधी गुलामगिरीत ढकलले गेले, तर कधी दुसऱ्याच्या दरबारात चाकरी करण्यात धन्यता मानु लागले. कुणबी, बलुतेदार नाडले जाऊ लागले. ..आणि एका योग्य वेळी जन्माला आला एक  मुलगा, चारचौघा सारखा सामन्यच पण असामान्य स्वप्न घेऊन. फेब्रुवारी १६२८, ठिकाण शिवनेरी किल्ला, शिवबा. सर रिचर्ड टेंपल यांनी शिवनेरी बद्दल ऐके ठिकाणी लिहिले आहे की “युगपुरुष जन्मायला अत्यंत आदर्श जागा म्हणजे शिवनेरी”. वयाचे ६ वर्ष शिवाजी महाराज या शिवनेरी किल्ल्यावर राहिले. तिथल्या शिवाई देवीच्या मंदिरात जिजामाता आणि शिवबा रोज जात असत. आजही ती तेजोमय शिवाई देवीची मुर्ती तशीच आहे..आणि आपण तिथे नतमस्तक होताना नकळत तिथली धूळही कपाळाला लावतो. 

तेव्हाचे भविष्य आजचा इतिहास बनलाय आणि अनेकांचे स्फुर्तीस्थान सुद्धा. जुन्नर आणि कलेचे, सुधारणांचे फार पूर्वीपासूनचे नाते आहे. महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुल्यांच्या “शेतकऱ्याचा आसूड” मध्ये जुन्नर कोर्टाच्या निकालाचा उल्लेख आहे, ज्येष्ठ चित्रकार सुभाष अवचट, मुक्तांगण, कवी, लेखक, विचारवंत, अनिल अवचट, एक संवेदनशील व्यक्तिमत्व जुन्नरचेच, मंगल गाणी दंगल गाणी आणि मराठी बाणाचे अशोक हांडे, शिवाजी पुन्हा जागविणारे डॉ. अमोल कोल्हे जुन्नरचेच, तमाशा लोककला देशाच्या कानाकोपऱ्यात पोहोचविणाऱ्या विठाबाई नारायणगावकर, दत्ता महाडिक जुन्नरचेच, “टिंग्या” चित्रपटातून जगभर कीर्ती मिळवणारे मंगेश हाडवळे जुन्नरचेच, मराठी मालिका क्षेत्रात स्वतचे स्थान निर्माण करणारी नम्रता आवटे जुन्नरचीच. जुन्नरला आधी जीर्णनगर मग जुन्नेर आणि नंतर जुन्नर असे नाव बदलत गेले. 

जुन्नर शहरापर्यंतचा प्रदेश हा पश्चिमेकडून डोंगराळ आहे आणि पूर्वेकडील प्रदेश हा मैदानी भुभाग आहे. त्यामुळे इथल्या डोंगर कड्यातील माळशेज घाट, नाणे घाट, दऱ्या घाट त्यांचा अक्राळविक्राळ पणा आणि अभेद्यता डोळ्याचे पारणे फेडणारी असते. आंबा, केळी या फळांचे मूळ ठिकाण इंडो बर्मा भागात आहे, त्याचे मूळ बीज तिथे सापडते. अगदी तेच मूळ बीज माळशेज घाटात सुद्धा सापडते. प्राणी पक्षांवर नेहमीच भूतदया दाखविणाऱ्या जुन्नरमध्ये माणिक डोह धरणाच्या पायथ्याला बिबट्या निवारा केंद्र उभारण्यात आले असुन आजमितीला जवळपास ३६ बिबट्या त्या ठिकाणी उपचार घेत आहेत. समुद्र सपाटीपासून २२६० फुट उंचीवर असणाऱ्या या जुन्नरच्या पठाराला भारताचे पहिले वनरक्षक डॉ. अलेक्झांडर गीबसन यांनी भारताचे आरोग्य केंद्र म्हटले आहे. इथल्या स्वच्छ आणि मोकळ्या हवेत श्वसनाचे आजार बरे होतात हे त्यांचे निरीक्षण होते. म्हणुनच ब्रिटीश काळात ते ब्रिटिशांना जुन्नरला जाऊन आराम करायचा सल्ला देत असत. त्यांनी जुन्नरमध्ये हिवरे बुर्दृक या ठिकणी १८३९ साली वनस्पती उद्यान उभारले होते. गिब्सन भाऊंच्या मुल देशात म्हणजे स्कॉटलंडच्या राष्ट्रीय संग्रहालयात २०० वर्षापूर्वीच्या शेती अवजारांच्या प्रतिकृती आजही मांडलेल्या आहेत. 

त्या काळाच्या १९९५ साली जगातील सर्वात मोठी रेडिओ दुर्बिण जुन्नरमधील खोडद या गावी उभारण्यात आली, यामुळे जुन्नरचे भौगोलिक दृष्ट्या महत्वाचे स्थान म्हणुन अधोरेखित झाले. सोबतीला अर्वीचे उपग्रह भूकेंद्र, आणे घाटातील नैसर्गिक पुल, बोरी गावात कुकडी नदीच्या पात्रात आढळणारी ८ लाख वर्ष जुनी टेफ्रा हे सारे जुन्नरचे भौगोलिक महत्व अजुनच वाढवत आहेत. शेतीच्या बाबतीत स्वयंपूर्ण असणारा जुन्नर; भाजीपाला, फळफळावळ, दुध दुभते, अगदी भात ते ज्वारी, द्राक्ष ते डाळिंब, ऊस ते ग्रीन हाउस मधील भाजीपाला आणि फुले अशी विविध प्रकारची शेती जुन्नरमध्ये केली जाते. गंमत म्हणजे महाराष्ट्रातील सर्वात जास्त धरणे असलेला तालुका म्हणुन जुन्नरचा नावलौकिक आहे. 

पिंपळगाव जोगा, माणिक डोह, यडगाव, चीलेवाडी पाचघर, आणि वडज ही ५ धरणे जुन्नरमध्ये आहेत, संततधार पडणाऱ्या पावसापासून ते अवर्षणग्रस्त भागापर्यतचा भुभाग जुन्नरमध्ये आहे. या सर्वांच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर; राहण्यासाठी, फिरण्यासाठी, आरामासाठी आणि पर्यटनसाठी जुन्नर हे अतिशय उपयुक्त ठिकाण बनले आहे. तसेच जुन्नरमध्ये मिळणारी मटन भाकरी आणि मसाला वडी [मासवडी] हे म्हणजे वर्णन करायचे नाही तर प्रत्यक्ष चाखून बघायचे पदार्थ आहेत. जुन्नमधील ऐतिहासिक, भौगोलिक, नैसर्गिक, धार्मिक, शेती, राहणीमान, जीवन शैली, खानपान याविषयी खुप काही लिहिता येईल, अगदी प्रत्येक मुद्य्यावर एक पुस्तक तयार करता येईल. जुन्नरचे हे सारे पर्यटन वैभव जतनाचे काम “जुन्नर पर्यटन विकास संस्था” मार्फत सुरु आहे. जुन्नरमधील संस्कृती जतनाचे, किल्ले संवर्धनाचे अतुलनीय काम “शिवाजी ट्रेल” च्या माध्यमातुन सुरु आहे. मागील १० वर्षांमध्ये जुन्नरची जबाबदार पर्यटन चळवळ खूप छानप्रकारे रुजली आहे..रुजत आहे. २१ मार्च २०१८ रोजी, महाराष्ट्र शासनाने, जुन्नरला विशेष पर्यटन क्षेत्राचा दर्जा दिला. 

जुन्नरच्या जबाबदार पर्यटन चळवळीत द्राक्ष महोत्सव, आंबा महोत्सव ते तालुका स्तरावरचे महोत्सव बनले. इथल्या पर्यातान्न विकासात स्थानिक लोकांचा खूपच सकारात्मक प्रतिसाद मिळत आहे. शेती आधारित पर्यटनाचे एका तालुक्याचे मॉडेल म्हणून जुन्नरकडे बघता येतं. एक जुन्नरकर म्हणुन मला जुन्नरचे  सारे पर्यटन  वैभव जगाच्या कानाकोपऱ्यात पोहोचवायचे आहे. जगभरातुन लोकांनी जुन्नर फिरायला यावे आणि त्यातून जुन्नरमध्ये रोजगार निर्मिती व्हावी. आणि हे सर्व एका शिस्तप्रिय वातावरणात व्हावे, हे माझे स्वप्न आहे. तसेच लोकसहभागाचे आणि पर्यटनातून शाश्वत विकासाचे हे मॉडेल, राज्यभर आणि पुढं देशभर घेऊन जाण्याची इच्छा आहे. आपली हचीको टुरिझम ही संस्था तेच काम करत आहे. ज्या माध्यमातून पर्यटन, प्रशिक्षण व सल्लागार या सेवा पुरवल्या जातात. पराशर कृषी पर्यटन हा त्याचाच एक भाग. येत्या काळात खुप काही चांगले बदल घडतील अशी अपेक्षा आहे. याला साथ हवी ती जुन्नरची आणि जुन्नरमधील सृष्टी सौंदर्याची आवड असणाऱ्या प्रेमींची. लोक जुन्नरकरांना प्रेमाने जुंदरी असं म्हणतात. म्हणुन मला पण स्वतःला जुंदरी म्हणुन घ्यावेसे वाटते ..कारण मी या मातीत जन्माला आलोय आणि मातृभूमीचा शाश्वत विकासाचा विचार सर्वदूर घेउउन जायचा आहे.

मनोज हाडवळे

संस्थापक संचालक

जुन्नर पर्यटन विकास संस्था

हचीको टुरिझम

पराशर कृषी व संस्कृती पर्यटन

9970515438/7038890500

manoi@hachikotourism.in

My Journey of Tourism

My Journey of Tourism

How did you think of this idea? 

Well. I am belongs to Farmer family born in rural area. Since my childhood I was very close to agriculture in form of culture. All the rituals regards to agriculture like sowing, inter culture operations, harvesting season, worshiping domestic animals like I have been experienced in earlier period. My academics also belongs agriculture field as did graduation and post graduation in agriculture. During graduation period we had our group of friends, we always used to travel at country side during the weekends. That time my friends asking me about the things observing in the fields like what is this crop? What is this weed?  What is the use of this instrument? Etc…that time I realizes that in our society there is a certain class who do not have any idea about this agriculture and all; at the same time they want to know about it. With this I have dreamed this idea about agritourism where people who would like to know about farming, want to experience the life of farmer, want to stay, eat like farmer, they can experience it here.

When did you begin this journey? and where? 

As I was lived at Rajuri, a small village in Junnar tahasil of Pune district surrounded by hills, forest and full of nature. I always used to travel in hills, in forest during my school period at village. Before starting this tourism also I used to visit these places frequently. I come to know during my collage time that my personal liking of travelling in nature is part of tourism. But as middle class family boy I focused myself on job for bread and butter only. After completing my post graduation in agriculture in 2007, instead of starting career in main stream I have selected to work in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra (India), in farmer’s suicide prone area with the thought that being agriculture student I can do something for them.

I started my career in one micro finance industry at Wardha. During that job of 2 yrs I have worked on a project of NABARD for The stress management of farmers in Vidarbha region. With my work I always used to travel many places nearby as Sevagram Ashram was just 5 km from my location and Vinoba Bhave’s Pawnar Ashram was at 7km. So many foreigners were come to visit these both places, I have started to talk with them to know why they are coming to India? What they exactly want to see? For me, that time was for developing thoughts, principles of life as all this was very new for me. For that time I started to write my observations to whom people called as poems. During my thought process I have decided to change location and move to Pune for further planning. For this I applied for another job which was in State bank Of India as an agriculture Officer with the thought of posting in Pune District. But I don’t know what I say it but fortunately or unfortunately I was again posted at Wardha. Where I had worked at micro credit, now at same area I was working at macro credit.

 During the bank tenure of 2 yrs I had written down my notifications of 5000 yrs cultural journey of India by name “Bharatvarsha Darshanam” [near about 650 pages]. That day was very tough for me on which I have got the confirmation of my job in SBI. All my colleagues were celebrating that now we had got settlement in life but I was much disturb with reason of I yet to find may way of life.

After 7 days of job confirmation i had resigned my job and traveled for 2 months without any reason again I did onion trading activity for 6 months in which I have to take onion from Alefata market and took it to Cochin market in kerala. I was much excited to do that activity because I have planned to travel by road from Alefata to Cochin. And I did it for many times. Really it was very nice and memorable experience for me. During that journey I found the reason of my life. The wish of showing our culture to all was came very forcefully and my travelling without reason since my childhood gets the reason by tourism. Obviously I have select Junnar area for it. I did 1 yr detailed survey and rest of the things before you.

 Why Agro tourism? 

When I planned to start this tourism business, I compounded myself to a particular area that is Junnar. As junnar is my tahasil place, I have soft corner to it, not only to this reason only. During my research on Junnar for a year with several aspects and tourism point of view, I have got very valuable information about Junnar. Junnar has very huge potential of tourism like 2000 old prosperous history, strength full geography, religious background, highest number of caves in India, world’s largest radio telescope GMRT, 7 forts [Shivneri one of the list], 2 ashtvinayakas, India’s 1^st forest officer Dr. Alexander Gibson lived here for 8 yrs his after death monument and many more  heritage is in Junnar.

Economy of Junnar is depends on agri & agri allied activities. I thought tourism for Junnar will be strong source of an employment if we develop it. Then I started to work on it, did some strategic planning and start my work with forming Junnar Tourism Development organization, a NGO for R & D on Junnar’s culture, traditions, customs, heritage places and many through tourism point of view. At Second step we have established Hachiko Tourism an organization to invite guests [tourists] to see this tourism potential of Junnar. After travelling in Junnar for whole day, we have develop Parashar Agritourism a place for taking rest at night in rustic and rural feel with rural cuisine and folk dance for entertainment.

Why parashar?

There is story behind it. When I decided to develop an agritourism project I have planned to study agriculture as a culture. I become more excited to know that how this agriculture is old as culture. For this I have made my research in Bhandarkar Research Institute, Pune. While studying it I have came across to a manuscripts written by sage Parshara by name “Krushi Parashara” that manuscripts was 1^st  such detailed analysis on agriculture, scientifically and culturally too.In next step I came to know that Sage Parashara was living for some period in Junnar and Naga Sage are used to gather there during the Kumbhmela at Nashik. So we decided to fix this name to make aware about people, the pioneers of agriculture in India. At Parashar Agritourism we have designed all infrastructures with rural feel by using natural material. Parashar Agritourism is unique community tourism center as we have gathered nearby farmers and started this center on barren land. Through Agritourism center we have provided additional market for farmers to sale their agriculture produce. As agriculture is base of economy, we have keep this base for tourism development of Junnar also.

What kind of initial investment did you put into this business? As discussed above I have planned strategic movement for tourism development in Junnar, at 1^st step we have established Junnar Tourism Development Organization. Through JTDO we have searched tourism potential of Junnar. Hachiko Tourism is our next step through which we have invited to guests [tourist] to enjoy Junnar Tourism. While travelling in Junnar for accommodation we have developed Parashar Agritourism Junnar a rustic facility for overnight stay with provision of rural cuisine, rural atmosphere and many more things to enjoy.

The moment I thought to see this junnar tourism movement at business platform I did so many investments. According to me in all this, intellectual investment is much important. As this is service industry, our focus should be on better service and its continuous improvement. In terms of economics I have invested near about 30 lakhs in the development of Junnar Tourism Model and 1.5 yrs of time to do preparation for it.On 9^th April 2011 I have started it on field by organizing Maharashtra’s 1^st grape festival. We have received fabulous response from the tourists. We became much confident and started to find a place to develop accommodation facilities.  I have my own land which is suitable for farming. Being agriculture graduate I would like to utilize the land for cultivation purpose.

So I was in search of barren land where I can develop desired accommodation facilities. Secondly there was a common saying that all tourism potential of Junnar is at west side of Junnar and I was planning to develop these accommodation facilities at east side. So all had doubt about its feasibility. But I was confident on it. As I believe in seeing is believing I want set a successful example for others, then only other people can dare to enter in tourism as business in Junnar.

 It was 3-4 months during which near about 40-50 rural artisans were engaged in the development of rustic look of Parashar Agritourism. While developing the location we have insists one thing that we should use natural material where it possible. On 4^th Sept 2011 we have inaugurated accommodation facilities of Parashar Agritourism, Junnar with 8 rooms and single dormitory with large common hall.

As belongs to rural, average farmer’s family, arrangement of funds for development was challenging task for me. At that crucial time my whole family stands with me. My father allowed me to mortgage our home and all family members gave their gold to pledge it. I have arranged rest of the funds through my friends. I have invested all these funds to develop Junnar model of tourism by very unique way and in disciplinary manner was shocked by so many capitalists.

 

1)   How does it work? 

After doing such huge investments [for me] all are thinking that now it will run commercially. But I was thinking different. I have established certain rules and regulations while running this tourism project. We have strictly banned non-veg meal, liquor and smoking at our premises. This made people to astonish. As this was very common idea for local people that they were more doubtful about its success. For me all conditions were adverse for me but I was firm on my concept of tourism as I know everything is possible but it takes time.

 Our funds were come to end while development so we do not have any provision for promotion and marketing. At that time I thought to use social media for it. Initial 5-6 months were really tough for me. No any guests…we were dong only maintenance…people were whispering many times demoralizing me, still I was stick up with my policy. After 6 months we started to receive good response for enquiries and all. And after that we never have blank days more than 3-4 days. There was a continuous flow of quality guests at our center. People were used to access our website, facebook page, news article and all, then enquire about the facility and nearby places to visit. Then doing online booking.

Once we receive their online payments we will confirm their bookings. We are not running this tourism commercially but running on quality basis. Our view is to those people only visit Junnar who are interested and giving respect to heritage, culture and nature. So we are maintaining good class of tourists at out center. Here we are arranging so many programs for the visiting guests. Like after traditional welcome, breakfast and tea. Then visit to farm with informative guide, visit to cow farm to experience milking and taste fresh milk, tractor trolley ride, bullock cart ride, forest visit, camp fire at night and folk art for entertainment. On next day we are planning to visit several tourism places of Junnar according to the interest and available time with the guests.

Secondly we have our art gallery where interested guests can explore them while doing clay modeling, painting, making creative things from natural things and can take it with them as souvenir.

 Who can avail this? 

Those who want to experience rural life, want to taste rural cuisine, want to know about farming and farmers, want to trek in mountains of Junnar and conquer the forts, want to see ancient caves and temples. All those who loves nature, culture and adventure can visit our Junnar..our hachiko Tourism. For this we mainly focused on people belongs to urban area who are much far from rural atmosphere. My main objective behind this is to people should visit, to see the source of food and can realize how difficult is to produce food. It will results into people will respect to food and can be avoid to waste it. This is not only tourism but its giving values to live, for growing generations. Its second home to those who are busy in their routine life. Its home of their son for those whose children are living abroad and they do not have any one here. Its celebration point to those who do not have any reason to celebrate…and many more. In short this place is world of happiness…come..Experience…refresh…and live life.

 How has the business grown? what is it worth? 

To visit Junnar through Hachiko Tourism and live at Parashar Agritourism we have designed several packages from 1 days up to 7 days with different costs which are already mentioned at our website in packages www.hachikotourism.in but we are focusing to consider the time availability and area of interest of the guests and customizing the packages according to them.  Like wise up till now we have received more than 10000 guests. And we are very happy with this.

 What are your future ideas? 

Within 4 yrs we have worked hard for developing “Junnar Model” of sustainable tourism where so many layers of rural are involved direct and indirectly. Though on small scale it is enhancing the rural economy. Now we have dream to take Junnar on world tourism map. I dreamed that when president of any country visit to India, he should have at least one day plan to visit Junnar. I have planned to create an employment through tourism on large scale for rural youth; it results into cut the flow from rural to urban area. Such so many plans are in mind and I am sure about it that I will complete it, see more dreams and also going to complete them also. Because I believe in journey for a dream instead of celebration after completing a dream. Once I will reach up to a gaol set, I will pause sometime and start to reach another destination.

How does it help promote tourism?  

In broad sense to conserve our culture with accepting ongoing change and to make available this culture with its journey from ancient time to current one to all those who are interested to see it is tourism. It includes heritage, culture, monuments, traditions, customs, farming also. And absolutely through all this description you very well get an idea about how it helps to promote tourism.

I have started to work in tourism field in 2011, In last 10 yrs, my vision, my experience, my exposure & my life get changed with many angles. On positive note I would like to use all this in tourism development of India. I am doing tourism consultancy also, in 2014, National Seed Corporation have invited me for tourism consultancy at Haryana & Rajasthan. I am also engaged in tourism trainings at different platforms. Some of them are Agrowon, Sakal international learning centre, agriculture dept of Maharashtra, tourism department of Maharashtra. In 2018, I have written a book on agritourism which is published by sakal publications. Since 2015, I am working as tourism trainer & consultant. I was a part of agritourism policy making for Govt of Maharashtra.  Right now I am tourism trainer for directorate of tourism, Govt of Maharashtra.

Manoj Hadwale

Founder Director

Hachiko Tourism, training & consultancies

Parashar Agri & Culture Tourism

manoj@hachikotourism.in

09970515438