ROLE OF AI IN FARM-TOURISM (AGRI-TOURISM) AT NEREDUCHERLA MANDAL OF SURYAPET DISTRICT-AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

“Farm tourism is a form of rural tourism that occurs on farms where tourists engage with farm activities, learn about agricultural practices, and experience the rural lifestyle, thereby providing additional income to farmers. This study is based on an empirical investigation of a sample of 112 farmers from Nereducherla Mandal of Suryapet District, focusing on farm tourism and related agricultural practices. Agri-tourism combines agriculture and tourism to promote rural development, allowing visitors to experience farming activities and rural life. The study examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming traditional farming through technologies such as crop monitoring, pest detection, precision farming, and smart irrigation, enhancing both farm productivity and sustainability. It also explores farm visits as part of the research methodology, using purposive sampling to select participants actively engaged in or familiar with farm tourism. AI not only assists farmers in effective farm management but also creates educational experiences for tourists, while supporting digital marketing, quality control, and operational efficiency. The findings indicate that AI can increase farmers’ income, promote sustainable practices, and generate rural employment, though challenges such as limited awareness, high costs, and technological constraints remain. Overall, integrating AI with farm tourism in NereducherlaMandal has significant potential to advance rural economic development and modernize agricultural practices.