Responsible Tourism Policy in Pokkali Farm Lands
Existing Public Policy protecting Pokkali farms EXCLUSIVELY for Pokkali Paddy Cultivation 14-April to 14-November (7 month Crop Calendar) as has been the case over centuries MUST be maintained and enforced. Encroachment and tresspassing of Pokkali farm lands from non-farming vested interests such as Eco-Tourism and Year-round Aquaculture by entities citing misleading and manufactured reasons for the lack of paddy cultivation must be prohibited.
Profitable Pokkali Cultivation is successfully being done by farmers from sowing through harvesting, as evidenced by factual data in Ezhikkara, Varappuzha, Kadamakkudy and Alappuzha without any of the issues cited by the Tourism and Aquaculture lobbies. These farmers need to be supported and their farming model needs to be promoted and replicated across all fallow farms
One single farm with Pokkali Cultivation should not be misleadingly propped by vested interests, local govt officials and sham farmers to imply widespread Pokkali cultivation to apply for and claim government funding in the name of Eco-Tourism in these Pokkali Farm Lands. Any such tourism funding must be made available only to those genuine farmers who can prove Pokkali Harvesting results every year with verifiable evidence.
Profitable Pokkali Cultivation is successfully being done by farmers from sowing through harvesting, as evidenced by factual data in Ezhikkara, Varappuzha, Kadamakkudy and Alappuzha without any of the issues cited by the Tourism and Aquaculture lobbies. These farmers need to be supported and their farming model needs to be promoted and replicated across all fallow farms
One single farm with Pokkali Cultivation should not be misleadingly propped by vested interests, local govt officials and sham farmers to imply widespread Pokkali cultivation to apply for and claim government funding in the name of Eco-Tourism in these Pokkali Farm Lands. Any such tourism funding must be made available only to those genuine farmers who can prove Pokkali Harvesting results every year with verifiable evidence.
Responsible Tourism Policy
- No Eco-Tourism or other land use initiatives and policies that impedes or irrevocably harms or takes away Pokkali Farms and Cultivation.
- Department of Tourism to promote several existing centuries old symbiotic authentic tourism opportunities within a Pokkali farm that will attract tourists without harming the farm or the Pokkali cultivation process.
- Mandate Pokkali cultivation be done from 14-April to 14-November with proof of harvesting to claim tourism incentive funds.
- Set up needed guardrails to presereve authenticity, native biodiversity, ecological balance, time curfews and tranquil way of life of local village residents.
- Disallow unfettered urbanization, tourist overruns to prevent associated noise, plastics and other pollution.
- Disallow conversion of farm lands to parking lots or any other non-agriculture purpose
- Disallow conversion of natural cheras to tarred or concrete pathways,
- Disallow building of concrete tea houses or non-natural bike paths along cheras
- Disallow introduction of non-native invasive plant species along cheras
- Disallow construction of mega resorts within clearance zone of farm lands
- Tourism initiatives such as kayaking, motor boating, resorts etc should be moved off of Pokkali Farms to inland waters or adjoining rivers. Opportunitiies for traditional "Vanchi" boat rides amidst lush green Pokkali farms already exists and has been practiced by farmers over centuries to transport harvested crop. This can be offered as a truly authentic water navigation experience for tourists without need for any policy changes.