ADEYEMI Feyisade CharlesTourism and Development DepartmentCentre For Sustainable Development

University of Ibadan, NigeriaEmail: Charlesadeyemi@newflagtours.comTOURISM POTENTIALS OF

FARMLANDS AND AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES

A Case Study of Songhai Farms in Benin Republic

Fourth Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit13-15 August 2013

Executive Summary

Tourism and Agriculture as way forward

1Africa, Poverty and

underdevelopment

2Our

Cultural shift and neglect of

Agri-Culture

3The Return to the GREEN

Roots

Africa, Poverty, Farming and Underdevelopment

The past, the present and what next ?

1

Farming in most parts of Africa is largely subsistent and often, farmers who are mostly found in the rural areas form a large proportion of those who are considered as poor. They also are often illiterate i.e unable to read and write and they often do not have access to basic social amenities and infrastructure. They therefore do not know how best to effectively and sustainably maximize the use of land.Our young population dread farming as they grow up with the impression that farming is directly proportional to poverty.Scarcely any child wants to grow up to be a farmer so how shall we feed tomorrow? Some will proffer genetically modified food, others mechanized inorganic farming. What about the consequences of those?

It is already well known that outside Africa, Africa is often depicted as the symbol of poverty at least by those who define poverty using earning power as parameter.

Socio-economic perception of Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

2 Our cultural shift and neglect of Agriculture as missing link

Agriculture is at the foundation level of economic development

Africa has suffered multiple shifts in culture as we continue to pursue the white man in his own race. First of all, we no longer speak in our own tongues. We speak in foreign tongues and everything else follows. Our foreign tongues comes with a foreign taste and our foreign taste means that we can import water not to mention rice.

So we have neglected our culture and our agriculture which is such an integral part of our culture that it dictates much of our cultural festivals such as the fishing festivals and the new yam festivals among others.

This however has also created a new market. Farm experiences are becoming exotic experiences that can be sold to our urban population that is becoming increasingly estranged from farming. Thereby creating a source of alternative income for farmers, more direct and indirect tourism related employment e.t.c

Our cultural shift and neglect of Agriculture as missing-link

3 THE RETURN TO THE GREEN ROOTS

Reviving Agriculture and driving rural development through Tourism

IntroducingAGRICULTURAL TOURISM

Tourism has been defined as a form of education and relaxation that involves travel from ones place of residence to a place of relaxation or pleasure for a period of more than twenty four hours. It has also been described as the science art, and business of attracting and transporting visitors, accommodating them and catering for their needs and wants. (Aremu, 2001).

Agricultural tourism is a worldwide trend which offers city dwellers a chance to escape urban concrete and re-discover their rural roots. In addition, visiting farmers, agronomists and other agricultural experts can evaluate worldwide developments in agriculture, which have been greatly influenced by modern technology. (Griver, 1999)

Simultaneous edits on one single document. No more waiting your turn or managing muut team work, and The Songhai ExamplewOur cultural shift and neglect of Agriculture as missing-linkill get you there.

Tourism meets Agriculture

A combination of unique integrated farming practices, standard hotel accomodation, indigenous technology and fabrication makes Songhai attractive to tourists.

Images from Songhai farms

Rev. Izamujo`s first residence :

Standard hotel, now on Songhai farm

Evolution of accomodation on Songhai farm

A Farm as a Tourist Destination potentially holds the key to reviving both agriculture and tourism.

» Research» Family visitations/Retreats» Noble and Novel Farming practices

Crop rotationCompost makingMushroom productionBiofuel productionBiogas productionWater and Waste managementAgro-processing

» Natural environment and Sight-seeing» Farm related recreation» Farm related festivals» Indigenous Knowledge, technology and fabrication

Travel Motivators to Farmlands

Songhai`s farm city model

• Guest Facilities:• Good Access Roads:• Electricity• Internet and

Telecommunication• Recreational

Facilities.• Potable Water Supply All these facilities are available on and around Songhai farms in Benin Republic, thereby making the farm tourist friendly.

REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE

• The Farmers are the most important stakeholder as they bear the primary responsibility and all development in farm tourism should be targeted primarily at promoting the farmers interest.

• The Private sector can invest in farm tourism in various ways from operating farms to support services such as operating farm tours e.t.c.

• Government is always needed to provide a favourable policy and regulatory framework

• International organisations are often most reliable as sponsors of elaborate developmental projects

• Non-governmental organisations can promote such a noble venture that will restore the dignity of farming

• The tourist can contribute to the development of the farms visited through his/her basic expenditure as well as donations and other contributions including tourist labour(recreational)

• The Farmers• Private Sector• Tour Operators• Various levels of government• International aid agencies and

development organizations• Non-governmental organizations• The tourist

KEY STAKE HOLDERS IN FARM TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

• Creation of Jobs and employment both directly and indirectly• Provision of sources of alternative income and higher earning power

for farmers and people in the neighborhood• Improved standard of living• Access to good infrastructure and social amenities• Additional incentive to farming, making farming more attractive to

young people who are steadily drifting towards white collar jobs• Increased economic activities • Provision of better options for tourists• Improved farming practices• Better ecological and environmental friendly farm management

approaches• Promotion of farming as a noble activity and restoration of the

farmers dignity and pride of place in the society

FARM TOURISMBenefits of

Current Developments• Songhai Farms remains not only the biggest Agricultural tourism destination in West Africa but is perhaps Benin Republic`s biggest single tourism destination.

• Songhai farms is currently expanding not only into other parts of Benin such as Savalou, Parakou, Lokonji but into other countries in Africa and here in Nigeria, they are partnering various state governments such as Delta, Songhai-Delta in Amukpe, Delta State, Nigeria, Songhai Rivers in Rivers state and so on.

• In 2008, the United Nations supported Songhais launch of the Regional Songhaï Project for the development of agricultural entrepreneurship.

• 2009 Songhaï was promoted as regional Center of Excellency by the Economic Community of the States of West Africa.

• Also, some state governments such as Ondo in Nigeria have come up with Farm city projects that can potentially be driven towards a tourism orientation

• Personally, I am currently carrying out a research into the Contributions of Agricultural Tourism to Sustainable Development using Songhai Farms as case study under the supervision of Prof. David Aremu

• I have also proposed a number of community farming projects, one of which is currently being carried out and we are hoping to develop it into an integrated farming system that can attract tourist attention in the future.

Current Developments• As a tour operator, I am

also promoting tours to various destinations across West Africa including Songhai farms in Benin Republic.

• By the end of this month, I will be taking a group to Ghana on a tour, we will be based in Accra but we will also visit Elmina and Akosombo during the 6 day visit. I am looking for opportunities to network with Ghanaians in the Hall and if there is any Farm tour destination you could recommend in Ghana, kindly let me know, I will gladly promote the place and bring people there.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Further research should be carried out on the tourism potentials of farmlands and agricultural enterprises in order to come up with a comprehensive policy framework that can guide the action of government and other stakeholders in developing agricultural tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and job creation

2. Private investors should invest in this vital sector

3. Local Tour operators should promote tours to farm destinations

4. . Farmers should be trained and encouraged to embrace integrated farming, sustainable farming practices and the use of indigenous knowledge and on-farm fabrication of basic machinery

• Farmlands are not only a potential source of tourist attraction; they are already an attraction, waiting to be tapped.

• Turning our rural farms into tourist destinations will also solve most of the rural infrastructural development problems of such areas.

CONCLUSION

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Thank you for your attention!!!