Director Urges FG To Promote Agro-Tourism

Director of Hospitality, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NHOTOUR), Mr Ernest Obia, has urged the Federal Government to promote agro-tourism.

Obia told newsmen in Abuja recently that development of viable agro-tourism farms in Nigeria was a function of comprehensive irrigation scheme crucial for sustainable development.

“Agric-tourism (agro-tourism) is the economic activity that occurs when people link travel with products, services and the experience of agriculture.

It includes visits to nursery and greenhouse attractions as part of leisure time activities, which can significantly benefit farmers and host communities,” he said.

The director explained that irrigation agriculture and tourism could be used to reduce poverty and address the challenges of hunger in Nigeria.

Obia said that the agro-tourism would enable the country to rediscover the values of rural resources disregarded in the modernization process.

He said that it would provide an insight for farmers and policymakers to adopt a wider perspective on agricultural products.

Obia added that agro-tourism encompasses agricultural production, lifestyle and rural environment, which were crucial in accommodating people in both urban and rural areas.

He said that agro-tourism was an enterprise that could take many form for the greenhouse industry.

“On location, property can be designed as nursery trails, picnics or camping grounds, farmers markets, roadsides stands for attraction,” Obia said.

He, however, said that agro-tourism provided opportunities for economic development and had the capacity to enrich the quality of lives of citizens.