Chitwan District: The King of Agritourism Destination
Chitwan District: The King of Agritourism Destination
Shree Kumar Maharjan
M.Sc. Ag. Conservation Ecology
Email: skmah70@hotmail.com
Introduction
Nepal, with its varied landscape, multiethnic composition and culture, variety of fauna and flora, high rugged Himalayan Mountains and numerous lakes and rivers, has attracted travelers since the inception of tourism in 1960. Nepal’s combination of world-class cultural and natural tourism attractions is well suited for international tourism including the seven World heritage sites of Kathmandu valley, Lumbini, Birthplace of Lord Buddha, Royal Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. It has well established nature and adventure products include wildlife viewing, trekking, mountaineering and rafting, all of high international standards. Current domestic visitor patterns still remain closely connected with religious and family activities.
HMG recognizes tourism as a priority sector. The tourism sector is considered as a key to strengthening the national economy, improving living standards and reducing poverty as well as helping preserve cultural traditions and historic monuments. It is established as a major contributor to Nepal’s economy. Gross foreign exchange earnings went up to 80 percent to US$ 192.8 million in 2003 as compared to US$ 106.8 million in 2002.
Over 80% of the total area in Nepal is covered with villages and majority of rural populace are deprived and are engaged in agriculture for the sustenance of their livelihood. Due to high illiteracy cases and fewer opportunities for generating income, many are doomed to lead a low standard and unhealthy life style. And this is exactly where rural tourism can step in rural tourism holds an immense potential of raising the socioeconomic standards of indigenous people through development of tourism. It was only 8th five-year national plan when rural tourism was coined to be a major tool in combating poverty in rural areas
Because of poverty of the farmers and geographical impasse, the traditional agricultural practices have undergone little changes. As Agriculture has been a key sector in Nepalese economy, this sector has to be developed and commercialized to raise the living standard of rural people by providing employment opportunities. Rural tourism is the concept of diverting the tourists to those rural areas, where there is range of agricultural activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people attract both internal as well as international tourists in order to generate extra income for their business. The living standard of the farmers and rural poor can be raised by identifying high value-low volume crops, which have comparative advantages and by optimally utilizing the available resources for sustainable development.
In 10th plan the government has extended its full support and commitments to capitalizing tourism as the vehicle for poverty alleviation. Significant steps have been taken towards identifying and promoting tourism potentials in rural areas over the years. One of them is tourism, the new concept of rural tourism to promote agriculture as tourism. Potential village for Tourism industry should be promoted to enhance living standard of people. Agri-tourism is the specific rural tourism focusing the agricultural diversity, variety of production like mushroom cultivation, honey-production/bee-keeping, different organic farming practices for vegetables cultivation/production, fishing, hunting, medicinal plant cultivation, different agricultural related festivals and functions attract both internal and international tourists. It is the industry that helps farmers and other tourism sectors as alternate income generating and service providing sector at the time of unemployment throughout the country. Tourism provides direct and indirect employment for over 250,000 people and tourism singly contributed 4 percent of GDP.
Chitwan the district of central Developmental region situated in the latitude of 27oC 21’45”E-27oC 52’30”E and longitude of 83oC 54’45”N to 84oC 48’15”N with elevation of 141m to1945m. It occupies the area of 1.52% of the total area of the country, lying in the Terai region of the country. Out of total tourists’ arrival, 33% of tourists come to Royal Chitwan National Park, Chitwan as a major destination situated only 7 km away from Chepang locality. The land use pattern of the district like coniferous forests, hardwood forests (broadleaved forests), protested forests, shrubs and grasslands are found in the district. Cultural, ecological and social diversity of the district is one of the unique features with agricultural related cultures and functions, which attract tourists. According to the ancient scriptures, the indigenous people like Tharu, Kumal, Darai had successfully adapted with the adverse climatic conditions through their indigenous knowledge. Chitwan, having traditional and indigenous communities with their specific farming techniques and commercial scale poultry farming industry, be the one of new site for agri-tourism industry. At present there are four types of tourism sectors in Chitwan: they are natural adventure sector, Historical sector, Religious sector, and cultural &social sector.
Chitwan district ranks first as a model district in beekeeping, poultry farming, cattle rearing fruit farming etc. modern bee-keeping of melifera started before 10 ago and become a model district in its commercial farming throughout the nation. One fourth of the total honey production of the country is produced in Chitwan. Out of the national production, 30% poultry feeds. 45% boilers, 85% layers, 60 % poultry eggs and 20% poultry flesh are produced in Chitwan.
Horticultural crops having aesthetic values like red pink flowers of pomegranates, the of flower clusters of ornamental cherries, deep red fruits of crab apple are admired by most of people passing through. One can enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms during early spring. Coconut, date mangosteen and kiwifruits provide an excellent foliage and good for walkways. Other different ornamental plants attract the tourist eye. These fruits and vegetables can be promoted for agri-tourism.
Most of citizens produce cereals, vegetables, fishes, honey, ghee, etc. and get more benefits from agritourism. There are two kinds of tourists in Nepal. They are farmer tourists (mostly internal tourists, who come to observe new cultivation practices different from their own practices and another tourists that need fresh vegetables, fruits, fishes honey etc (may be domestic as well as international. Artificially propagated horticultural plants can be very important tourist products for domestic tourists and foreign tourists to some extent. Artificially propagated plants through cutting, layering (air layering, tip layering), Grafting (splice grafting, tongue grafting, side grafting, bridge grafting inarching) and budding can attract viewers eye. Besides that training and pruning including twisting, bending, fastening, bonsai making, topiary etc. in horticulture also attract them.
It is important to promote and develop Agriculture and tourism sectors. Tourism sector use nation’s internal agricultural production. Tourism play an important role in utilization of vegetables, cereals, poultry and its eggs, nursery in Chitwan. There is a direct and indirect impact of tourism on agriculture. It is important to emphasize on tourism for better marketing promotion of agricultural production. Tourism also enjoy in rice field at the time of transplanting.
Getting there
Chitwan has flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur and Meghauli airport. Different vehicles are available from all cities of the country. Within district, there are vehicles like Rikshaws, tempos, microbuses, buses, rental cars, etc.
Where to stay
Hotels, lodges, guest houses restaurants of different classes are available in every corner of the district. Besides that home stays are available in most of the villages even in different ethnic groups like Tharu, Chepang, Newars etc.
Tourism attractions and activities
honey bee farms, Different fruit cultivations, organic vegetable farming, traditional agricultural practices, fishing and hunting, elephant riding, bird watching, different nurseries, herbal farms, national park, ploughing with pair of bullock, Ropai jatra etc. different Hatbazzars, expos like poultry expo, and other festivals.
What to eat
diverse food items including Organic foods, local alcoholic wines and juices, traditional foods of different ethnic groups like Chichar, Ghongi, Bat, mo mo, etc, and food festivals.
At present, the country is searching new tourism product in order to make the tourism industry all the season in a year. It is a great challenge to the tourism related institutions as well. For this, Agritourism can be the one of the new product in a country’s tourism product list to draw huge mass of the international as well as domestic tourists.
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Shree Kumar Maharjan
M.Sc. Ag. Conservation Ecology
Email: skmah70@hotmail.com
Introduction
Nepal, with its varied landscape, multiethnic composition and culture, variety of fauna and flora, high rugged Himalayan Mountains and numerous lakes and rivers, has attracted travelers since the inception of tourism in 1960. Nepal’s combination of world-class cultural and natural tourism attractions is well suited for international tourism including the seven World heritage sites of Kathmandu valley, Lumbini, Birthplace of Lord Buddha, Royal Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. It has well established nature and adventure products include wildlife viewing, trekking, mountaineering and rafting, all of high international standards. Current domestic visitor patterns still remain closely connected with religious and family activities.
HMG recognizes tourism as a priority sector. The tourism sector is considered as a key to strengthening the national economy, improving living standards and reducing poverty as well as helping preserve cultural traditions and historic monuments. It is established as a major contributor to Nepal’s economy. Gross foreign exchange earnings went up to 80 percent to US$ 192.8 million in 2003 as compared to US$ 106.8 million in 2002.
Over 80% of the total area in Nepal is covered with villages and majority of rural populace are deprived and are engaged in agriculture for the sustenance of their livelihood. Due to high illiteracy cases and fewer opportunities for generating income, many are doomed to lead a low standard and unhealthy life style. And this is exactly where rural tourism can step in rural tourism holds an immense potential of raising the socioeconomic standards of indigenous people through development of tourism. It was only 8th five-year national plan when rural tourism was coined to be a major tool in combating poverty in rural areas
Because of poverty of the farmers and geographical impasse, the traditional agricultural practices have undergone little changes. As Agriculture has been a key sector in Nepalese economy, this sector has to be developed and commercialized to raise the living standard of rural people by providing employment opportunities. Rural tourism is the concept of diverting the tourists to those rural areas, where there is range of agricultural activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people attract both internal as well as international tourists in order to generate extra income for their business. The living standard of the farmers and rural poor can be raised by identifying high value-low volume crops, which have comparative advantages and by optimally utilizing the available resources for sustainable development.
In 10th plan the government has extended its full support and commitments to capitalizing tourism as the vehicle for poverty alleviation. Significant steps have been taken towards identifying and promoting tourism potentials in rural areas over the years. One of them is tourism, the new concept of rural tourism to promote agriculture as tourism. Potential village for Tourism industry should be promoted to enhance living standard of people. Agri-tourism is the specific rural tourism focusing the agricultural diversity, variety of production like mushroom cultivation, honey-production/bee-keeping, different organic farming practices for vegetables cultivation/production, fishing, hunting, medicinal plant cultivation, different agricultural related festivals and functions attract both internal and international tourists. It is the industry that helps farmers and other tourism sectors as alternate income generating and service providing sector at the time of unemployment throughout the country. Tourism provides direct and indirect employment for over 250,000 people and tourism singly contributed 4 percent of GDP.
Chitwan the district of central Developmental region situated in the latitude of 27oC 21’45”E-27oC 52’30”E and longitude of 83oC 54’45”N to 84oC 48’15”N with elevation of 141m to1945m. It occupies the area of 1.52% of the total area of the country, lying in the Terai region of the country. Out of total tourists’ arrival, 33% of tourists come to Royal Chitwan National Park, Chitwan as a major destination situated only 7 km away from Chepang locality. The land use pattern of the district like coniferous forests, hardwood forests (broadleaved forests), protested forests, shrubs and grasslands are found in the district. Cultural, ecological and social diversity of the district is one of the unique features with agricultural related cultures and functions, which attract tourists. According to the ancient scriptures, the indigenous people like Tharu, Kumal, Darai had successfully adapted with the adverse climatic conditions through their indigenous knowledge. Chitwan, having traditional and indigenous communities with their specific farming techniques and commercial scale poultry farming industry, be the one of new site for agri-tourism industry. At present there are four types of tourism sectors in Chitwan: they are natural adventure sector, Historical sector, Religious sector, and cultural &social sector.
Chitwan district ranks first as a model district in beekeeping, poultry farming, cattle rearing fruit farming etc. modern bee-keeping of melifera started before 10 ago and become a model district in its commercial farming throughout the nation. One fourth of the total honey production of the country is produced in Chitwan. Out of the national production, 30% poultry feeds. 45% boilers, 85% layers, 60 % poultry eggs and 20% poultry flesh are produced in Chitwan.
Horticultural crops having aesthetic values like red pink flowers of pomegranates, the of flower clusters of ornamental cherries, deep red fruits of crab apple are admired by most of people passing through. One can enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms during early spring. Coconut, date mangosteen and kiwifruits provide an excellent foliage and good for walkways. Other different ornamental plants attract the tourist eye. These fruits and vegetables can be promoted for agri-tourism.
Most of citizens produce cereals, vegetables, fishes, honey, ghee, etc. and get more benefits from agritourism. There are two kinds of tourists in Nepal. They are farmer tourists (mostly internal tourists, who come to observe new cultivation practices different from their own practices and another tourists that need fresh vegetables, fruits, fishes honey etc (may be domestic as well as international. Artificially propagated horticultural plants can be very important tourist products for domestic tourists and foreign tourists to some extent. Artificially propagated plants through cutting, layering (air layering, tip layering), Grafting (splice grafting, tongue grafting, side grafting, bridge grafting inarching) and budding can attract viewers eye. Besides that training and pruning including twisting, bending, fastening, bonsai making, topiary etc. in horticulture also attract them.
It is important to promote and develop Agriculture and tourism sectors. Tourism sector use nation’s internal agricultural production. Tourism play an important role in utilization of vegetables, cereals, poultry and its eggs, nursery in Chitwan. There is a direct and indirect impact of tourism on agriculture. It is important to emphasize on tourism for better marketing promotion of agricultural production. Tourism also enjoy in rice field at the time of transplanting.
Getting there
Chitwan has flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur and Meghauli airport. Different vehicles are available from all cities of the country. Within district, there are vehicles like Rikshaws, tempos, microbuses, buses, rental cars, etc.
Where to stay
Hotels, lodges, guest houses restaurants of different classes are available in every corner of the district. Besides that home stays are available in most of the villages even in different ethnic groups like Tharu, Chepang, Newars etc.
Tourism attractions and activities
honey bee farms, Different fruit cultivations, organic vegetable farming, traditional agricultural practices, fishing and hunting, elephant riding, bird watching, different nurseries, herbal farms, national park, ploughing with pair of bullock, Ropai jatra etc. different Hatbazzars, expos like poultry expo, and other festivals.
What to eat
diverse food items including Organic foods, local alcoholic wines and juices, traditional foods of different ethnic groups like Chichar, Ghongi, Bat, mo mo, etc, and food festivals.
At present, the country is searching new tourism product in order to make the tourism industry all the season in a year. It is a great challenge to the tourism related institutions as well. For this, Agritourism can be the one of the new product in a country’s tourism product list to draw huge mass of the international as well as domestic tourists.
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