Parliament Question: Organic Farming Based Tourism

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.89 ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 ORGANIC FARMING BASED TOURISM

89. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted or proposed any study or assessment on the potential of organic farming-based and agro-eco tourism in the Pollachi–Sethumadai region of Tamil Nadu and in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Bundelkhand region;

(b) whether such initiatives are proposed to be supported under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Dekho Apna Desh, Rural Tourism initiatives or other Central Sector Schemes, and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has allocated or proposes to allocate funds for development of organic farming-linked tourism circuits in the said regions, including infrastructure, way-side amenities, interpretation centres, digital promotion and marketing support; and

(d) the details of training, capacity building, financial incentives or public private partnership models proposed to support farmers, self-help groups and local youth in developing sustainable agro-tourism ecosystems in the said regions? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): Development of tourist destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry complements the efforts of States/UTs through various schemes and initiatives.

There is no proposal in the Ministry of tourism at present to conduct any study or assessment on the potential of organic farming-based and agro-eco tourism in the Pollachi–Sethumadai region of Tamil Nadu and in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Bundelkhand region.The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive

(PRASHAD) and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development ’extends financial assistance to the State Governments /UT Administrations for tourism infrastructure development in the country. The central financial assistance is being extended according to guidelines and based on proposals / detailed project reports received from the States and UT Governments. Under the schemes, the Ministry considers sanctioning a range of components which may enhance tourism facilitation at the destinations, as per project requirement including those related to tourism core products, tourism activities, safety, sanitation, last mile connectivity, parking, general site development, soft interventions etc.

Various schemes, programs, and initiatives of the Ministry including Paryatan Mitra/Paryatan Didi, Hunar Se Rozgar Tak etc. have been actively addressing issues related to the tourism promotion and development, sustainability etc.

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