POKKALI

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 seedsand 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 ineffective without any Pokkali cultivation to be seen anywhere. Instead, incentives for a successful cultivation and harvesting of traditional organic Pokkali crop that commands high 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 Farming Heritage of Kerala and Organic Agriculture Treasure of India.