Assessing Rural Agri-tourism Potentials for Sustainable Development of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State

The low value-added services of rural farmers is a serious hindrance on agri-tourism. Most rural communities with agri-tourism potential lose a lot of revenue due to poor diversification process. The study determined the various agri-tourism potential of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State with responses from the operations of forest farmers with a well-structured questionnaire. A sample of 96 farmers was drawn from the total population using two stage random sampling procedures and the data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis revealed a mean age of 43 years of mostly married male farmers suggesting that they are still with vigor and agility for the forest operation and that they are capable of adopting innovative and creative skill of agri-tourism in the area. They are mostly staple food crop producer (52.1) with few tree and forest crop farmers (13. %). More than 63% of the respondents were into food crop processing such as cassava and maize. It could be seen from the result that agri-tourism business thrives more in the area if the learning opportunities are provided through farm tours (4.53 ± 1.06), educational demonstration to visitors (4.33± 0.98), more revenue generation (4.28 ± 1.01) and animal exhibition (3.83 ± 1.28). Basic rural infrastructure (3.49 ± 0.98), capital ssourcing (3.478 ± 0.98), use of ICT (3.29 ± 1.14) and funding tourism with faming activities (3.26 ± 1.04) may strongly affect agri-tourism but destruction of flora and fauna through agri-tourism cannot affect diversification of farming to agri-tourism in the area. The study therefore recommends an extensive educational training of young farmers on the ICT and educational programmes that promotes agri-tourism while making rural market infrastructure relatively available for speedy agri-tourism operations in the state.