Pokkali

Reviving Traditional Organic Heirloom Pokkali Rice Farming Heritage of Kerala

Current Status

Urgent targeted actions are needed from all those with goodwill (farm owners, laborers, citizens, govt officials, political parties, others) to reverse the current alarming state of Pokkali farming neglect dominated by year round Prawn-only farming that threatens extinction of centuries old traditional heirloom Pokkali seeds and organic farming heritage of Kerala. A decade of well intentioned but ineffective policies including crop loss compensations and promoting genetically modified non-native seeds has lead to the current alarming decline in Pokkali farming. Crop loss is declared within days of sowing citing cliched reasons of bad weather, birds, no labor, no market etc to claim compensation and revert back to Prawn farming during Pokkali farming season. Pokkali tourism incentives are also ineffective without any Pokkali cultivation to be seen anywhere. Instead, incentives for a successful cultivation and harvesting of traditional organic Pokkali crop that commands premium market value are needed for farmers. Following good faith initiatives are being actively pursued to enable economic opportunities for the farming community and to revive the storied Pokkali Organic Agriculture Heritage of Kerala and an Organic Agriculture Treasure of India.

Seed Vault

On-going project to deploy low cost air, temperature, humidity, moisture, condensation, light and pest controlled modern version of classic Kerala Pathayam seed vault (not just storage) to preserve all heirloom traditional Pokkali seed varieties for a minimum of 2 cultivation seasons. Eliminates risk of extinction of seeds due to crop loss in consequitive seasons triggered by any external natural calamity or human negligence. Only for traditional seeds (Chettivirippu, Cheruvirippu, Choottu, Athikiramundakan, other) harvested from coastal Pokkali clay farms (not inland) of Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts. Proven low cost solutions used in tropical regions of south asia.

Genome Database

On-going project to generate Genomic DNA Sequence database for all existing traditional Pokkali seeds (past and present) exclusively from coastal clay Pokkali farm lands of Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts that represent authentic GI Tagged Organic Pokkali cultivation to enable rapid classification, authentication, preservation and revival. Authentic heirloom Pokkali rice is GI-tagged to be only those harvested continuously over millenia from farm lands of central coastal Kerala. Studies with misrepresented specimens such as Bengal Pokkali or Vyttila-x genetically modified varieties grown in other inland regions do not represent authentic Pokkali.

Bio Markers

Automation

On-going project to create a shared repository of automation equipments for farmers to address labor shortage issues in realizing a successful Pokkali harvest. Allocation of agriculture drones for sowing, spraying, monitoring and mapping, ultrasonic wave instruments for bird and pest deterrance, automated sluice controllers aligned with tidal flows, mobile crop health monitoring and alerts, tillers for dried clay farms, machines for seed drying and threshing machines and prototypes of crop harvester for water logged clay farms.

Sluice Control

Project to ensure enactment, communication and enforcement of regulations and directives for timely hand over of sluice control from Prawn Farmers to Pokkali Farmers from April-14th to November-14th. Directives to Prawn farm owners and sluice controllers to drain farms completely by April-14th to faciliate Pokkali farm preparation for cultivation. Directives to Krishi Bhavan AOs, Panchayath Presidents, District Directors and PLDA representatives to provide timely oversight and enforcements to deter non-compliance.

Fallow Farms

Project to identify and catalog all active and fallow farm lands with associated farm ownership, sluice ownership and area details to facilitate revival of traditional Pokkali cultivation. Identify fallow farm areas best suited for seed multiplication effort. Regularize tax records, ownership deeds and contact details of all farm owners. Drive revival of traditional Pokkali cultivation in fallow farms by identifying farm areas for seed multiplication cultivation and provide required resource and support.

MGNRE Resources

Government directive to prioritize and allocate MGNREGA Thozhil Oruppu funds and Labor for revival of fallow Pokkali farm lands in coastal Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur to preserve organic Pokkali farming heritage of Kerala. Allocation of labor and resources to incrementally revitalize atleast 20% of fallow farm lands annually for cultivation.

Seed Exchange

On-going project to create an active real time online Seed Exchange database of available traditional seed variety, quantity, price and contact information for Pokkali farmers in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts. Promote incentive for farmers to allocate a portion of their successful annual harvest to the Seed Exchange to enable revitalizing other fallow lands.

Market Pricing

On-going project to market GI Tagged traditional Organic Certified Nutrient Rich Heirloom Pokkali Rice at competitive pricepoints comparable to Organic Basmati rice and equivalents. Set up profitable MSPs for farmers. Ensure only rice cultivated from traditional heirloom seeds in these coastal Pokkali clay farms (not inland farms) are branded as authentic Pokkali.

Cultivation Costs

Detailed cost breakdown of fully Organic Pokkali crop cultivation and harvesting using traditional methods and local labor. Derived from a successful Pokkali farming done in 2024. Cost per Kg of seeds, rice grains and downstream derivative products. Cost allocations for key steps including Seeds, Transport, Vellam Pidikkal, Chera Vettal, Nilam Unakkal, Nilam marakkal, Thodu Valikkal, Kelakkal, Vithakkal, Niratthal, {Attakili Nilakkozhi, Eli-vettal, Chaazhi} nottam, Koyitthu, Transport, Kettu Kalam, Unakkal, Chettal, Vithu maattal, Puzhungal, Unakkal, Methikkal, Chettal, Bagging etc.

Successful 2024 Pokkali Farming

Successful organic cultivation and harvesting of traditional Chettivirippu Pokkali without any fertilizers or pesticides was achieved during the 2024 farming season at Ezhikkara, validating the exceptionally nutrient rich and naturally organic Pokkali farmlands of coastal Kerala. Minimal impact of Attakkili, Neelakkozhi, Thattha, Eli-vettal or Chaazhi etc were observed and successfully mitigated using effective time tested traditional deterrance mechanisms. Validates continuing viability of centuries old traditional organic farming methods.