Agro-tourism also known as agricultural tourism is a form of travel in which visitors have an opportunity to experience living on farms or in rural areas. In Uganda, agrotourism has developed over many years. For instance, in 1975 Kabeihura Farmers Ltd a 20-hectare tea plantation was established in Bushenyi District. Over the time it was expanded to 250 hectares majorly for agriculture. The farm deals in dairy, poultry, fish farming and yogurt processing. Kabeihura Farmers Ltd has established itself as a model for integrating tourism and agriculture.
In 2020 the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) joined together with agricultural businesses in order to foster agro-tourism in the 18 regions and 51 districts in the country. The primary goals for this initiative was to assist the stakeholders in tourism and agriculture to raise awareness and promote agro-tourism goods and services. Uganda has become more urbanized and farmers have adapted to the use of technology in farming. Both domestic and foreign visitors benefit greatly from agro-tourism.
Uganda has got different farms which are meant for agro-tourism and most of them are owned by individuals. Some of them include;
Coffee farms
Uganda is recognized for its thriving coffee industry with many farms across the country cultivating Robusta and Arabica coffee. For instance, the areas of Mount Elgon and Rwenzori mountains are home to numerous coffee farms which produce high quality Arabica coffee. The central region is predominantly known for growing Robusta coffee. Coffee growers have adopted both organic and sustainable agricultural practices which help local ecosystems while also improving the quality of coffee. For instance, some of the coffee growers have transitioned to agroforestry models which integrate coffee cultivation with other crops and trees. This is done in order to support biodiversity and environmental conservation.
Many coffee farms in Uganda have embraced agro-tourism and offer different experiences. Some of the activities offered by these farms include; guided nature walks which gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the coffee cultivation process, harvesting, coffee processing and brewing. Another activity is cultural interactions where visitors engage with the local community, participate in traditional dances and taste indigenous cuisines.
