UP government pushes for orchard tourism to promote short term tourism

LUCKNOW: Imagine being served kakori kebabs inside a mango orchard in Malihabad. The food would surely taste better in the laid-back but green environ of an orchard. The supposition is set to turn true with UP tourism department exploring possibilities of introducing orchard tourism in state.
In this, tourists would get a chance to explore countryside life inside the mango orchards during the harvest season.The concept is already working successfully in many hill states besides Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The government is working to formulate a policy to encourage farmers and land owners build small hotels in their orchards and green areas where tourists can stay as paying guests on the bed and breakfast pattern. The government would however, provide the external amenities like road, power supply and drainage system.
The first level meeting between tourism officials, consultants and some orchard-owners who are running the concept successfully was held in April while the next round is slated for this week.
Director General UP Tourism, Amrit Abhijat claimed that the department has identified several spots in western districts, terai region, Bundelkhand and Avadh (Lucknow-Faizabad region) for the purpose. “A feasibility study would begin shortly,” he said adding that the concept aimed at promoting short term tourism in state.

Officials in tourism department stated that mango orchards in UP attracted a lot of people and they can be easily drawn to the farms once the facilities get into place. Notably, UP's mango belt spans over 4lakh hectare area in north and central UP.
While the northern belt comprise Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Bagpat, Meerut, JB Phule Nagar and Bulandshahr while the central belt spreads over Hardoi, Sitapur, Barabanki, Lucknow, Unnao, Pratapgarh, Varanasi and Faizabad.
Experience from other states suggests that farmers benefit from it significantly. “Farmers get buyers at their doorsteps and these buyers pay for their visit to the farm,” said a farm owner in Himanchal Pradesh. Officials are very hopeful of Lucknow potential in orchard tourism following the presence of 15,000 hectare Malihabad-Maal-Rahimabad belt known for dussehri mangoes.
“If integrated with Lucknow's architectural heritage, cuisine and tradition of dance and music, this package can work very well,” said Prateek Hira, an international tour operator in city. He added that mango festivals can blend well with the concept.