Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress MP from Wayanad, urged government agencies in a post on X to push farm‑stay tourism as a way to reconnect children in cities with nature.
“I’m worried that so many kids today grow up in urban environments and have no real contact with the outdoors,” she wrote. “It would help a lot if schools could send students on farm‑stay experiences.”
The MP filmed her visit to Carmel Agro Farm in Anakkampoyil, a small village near Thiruvambady town in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. She met 27 farmers who have teamed up to run a farm‑stay initiative on a property owned by a lovely couple, Elsie and Dominique. “It was a joy meeting these enterprising farmers,” she said. “Elsie is a fountain of knowledge about plants and their uses.”
Gandhi highlighted the diversity of the farm tenants: some grow award‑winning coffee, spices, fruits, and even fish; a few rear exotic animals and one man keeps tarantulas. “Each farmer has something unique, and this diversity can teach people about agriculture,” she added.
She said farm‑stay tourism isn’t just for kids. “Adults can also enjoy learning about farming, and it would give small farmers a new source of income if the government pushes it,” Gandhi explained.
Earlier this week, the Congress leader focused on flood damage in Wayanad. She criticised the central government for refusing to waive loans for landslide‑affected farmers while waiving debts for large business houses. “The Kerala High Court decided the Union government has failed to help when it’s most needed,” she wrote. “These loans are a tiny sum compared to the lives lost and broken.”
The MP’s calls come at a time when rural tourism is gaining traction as a sustainable development strategy. If the government follows Gandhi’s advice, farm‑stay programs could boost local economies, encourage environmental education, and help farmers recover from the devastating 2024 landslides. The initiative may also position Kerala as a prime destination for eco‑tourism, attracting families from across India and abroad.
Source: ianslive
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