ABUJA, May 22 (MENA) - The World Agritourism Organization Advocacy (WAOA) group has urged government at all levels and stakeholders in agriculture and tourism sectors to invest in the creation of agritoursim villages.

This will boost food production and also create jobs, said Trust Ogboi, President of WAOA, during a news conference organized by the group in Abuja on Thursday.

Agritourism involves visitors participating and experiencing various aspects of agricultural activities, such as farm tours, workshops, and seasonal festivals, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

An agritourism village combines agricultural activities with tourism, offering visitors a firsthand experience of farm or ranch life and increasing awareness of agricultural products.

According to Ogboi, Nigeria’s agriculture and tourism sectors have robust potentials to rescue the country from its economic challenges, particularly in the provision of adequate food supply and job creation for teeming unemployed youths.

He said investment in agritourism villages across the country would offer a perfect blend of work and leisure, as well as wealth creation for both individuals, investors and government.

He added that all over the world, agritourism villages offer a unique window into local agriculture, attracting investment and visitors to rural areas and improved land use, turning forests into cities.

“Agritourism is a rapidly growing global concept which combine agriculture and tourism sectors by attracting visitors to such areas for the purposes of entertainment, leisure, shopping and education,” Ogboi said.

“Almost all continents, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Australia are promoting and practicing agritourism, providing economic development, stability and global peace particularly among the younger generations,” he added.

“The importance of agritourism village to Nigerian government in particular is coming at a time when people are no longer interested in traditional agriculture again, they need an innovative agriculture,” he noted.

“Agritourism will encourage Nigerians to go into farming, when these activities are going on, it will create industrial hubs, which will create jobs,” he pointed out.

“With tourism villages across the 36 states, agriculture will be made attractive, especially to young Nigerians, and rural-urban migration will be reduced, as more people get involved in food production,” he said. (MENA)

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