Agri-tourism-The Linkage of Local Tourism and Agriculture Industry

摘要

Regardless of the experience or tenure of the U. S. farmers and ranchers, making a living through their occupation is becoming a greater challenge with each passing day. Trying to sustain through production of traditional agricultural commodities has put a serious financial strain and threatens the viability of their businesses. These economic challenges also have a tendency to spread to the rural communities the farmers and ranchers live in. Two critical forces combine to put pressure on both ends of the profit equation -poor marketing efforts inhibit revenue maximization , and focusing on traditional products constraints cost containment. The chart below shows the profit strain the farmers and ranchers have been experiencing in the U. S. for several years. Low commodity prices and increased input costs have made farming an extremely risky endeavor in many respects. Many small and large farmers and ranchers are now facing the choice of deciding weather to cease their operations for good or seek innovative ways to supplement their revenue streams. The former choice would imply an abandonment of the farming communities and a migration of population to urban areas to seek better options for employment. The latter choice entails a serious effort on the part of the governmental agencies to educate the fanners and ranchers about marketing and revenue diversification methods.