PUNE: City-based Agro Tourism Development Corporation’s (ATDC) foundation day will now be officially celebrated as World Agro Tourism Day. The United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation has decided to celebrate May 16 as World Agro Tourism Day from 2010 onwards.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, ATDC’s sales and marketing director Pandurang Tawre said, “Keeping in view the uncertainty in agriculture sector, ATDC has developed agro tourism centres in various parts of the State. These centres have proved to be helpful for the farmers as a supplementary business.”

The movement, which started at Baramati in 2003, has now reached to international level after getting recognition from the United Nations, added Tawre.

The ATDC currently has nine co-operative institutions, 124 agro tourism centres and as many as 400 farmers have become its members.

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Maharashtra State Agri and Rural Tourism (MART) Co-operative  Federation will conduct a workshop on national agro tourism at ASSOCHAM hall, New Delhi on February 1. It will be attended by farmers and businessman, Tawre said.

Similarly, the ATDC will also organise a day-long ‘hurda party' special picnics between January 12 and February 14, at Malthan in Shirur taluka. The picnics will try to give the real village essence to people, Tawre said.