Chandigarh, Sept. 3 -- Three months after Punjab rolled out its ambitious Farm Stay Policy to create an additional source of income for farmers and promote rural tourism, the initiative has received a modest response, with only 35 applications filed so far, of which 21 have been approved.

Launched in May this year and implemented by the department of tourism and cultural affairs, was aimed at encouraging farmers to diversify beyond conventional agriculture while creating new opportunities in rural and experiential tourism.

Mohali has emerged as the frontrunner, accounting for 14 of the 35 applications received under the policy. Ludhiana has received four applications, while Ropar, Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib have recorded three applica...